Dental Anxiety Scale Research Articles

Dental fear among adolescents with cleft.

Dental fear is a prevalent phenomenon among children and adolescents globally. To investigate dental fear among 18-year-olds with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) at their final follow-up cleft clinic visit, and to evaluate the association between dental fear and OHRQoL. This cross-sectional study included the cohort of children with CLP treated at the Oulu University Hospital Cleft Lip and Palate Center, in northern Finland since 1995. A total of 62 of 64 individuals participated in this study. The validated Finnish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to assess OHRQoL. Dental fear was studied using the validated Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and cognitive vulnerability model (CVM). Almost two fifths of the participants reported moderate dental fear. Participants with cleft including lip and participants reporting impact on OHRQoL reported higher mean MDAS scores. In an unadjusted model, adolescents with cleft including lip had risk for higher dental MDAS scores compared with the ones with cleft including only palate. Dental fear is common among adolescents with CLP, specifically among those with clefts involving the lip. OHRQoL and dental fear seem to be associated.

Dentist-administered cognitive behavioural therapy versus four habits/midazolam: An RCT study of dental anxiety treatment in primary dental care.

The study aimed to test the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) administered by a general dental practitioner (GDP) in a general dental practice. In a two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial, the experimental group received a short dentist-administered CBT-intervention (D-CBT). A best-practice control group (FHM) received dental treatment during sedation with midazolam combined with an evidence-based communication model (The Four Habits Model). Ninety-six patients with self-reported dental anxiety were allocated to the treatment arms at a 1:1 ratio. Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) scores spanned from 12 to 25, and 82 patients (85%) had a score of 19 or more, indicating severe dental anxiety. In both treatment arms, scores on MDAS and Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C) decreased significantly, but no differences were found between treatment arms. Mean reductions were: MDAS scores: -6.6 (SD=0.5); IDAF-4C scores: -1.0 (SD=1.1). In conclusion, local GDPs in general dental practices with proper competence have the ability for early detection of dental anxiety and, with the use of a manual-based D-CBT or FHM treatment, GDPs could offer efficient first-line treatment suitable for dental anxiety of varying severities.

Relationship Between Maternal Dental Anxiety and Children's Dental Caries in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

PurposeDental anxiety is a barrier to dental care utilization and is associated with poor oral health outcomes. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between dental anxiety of mothers and dental caries of their children in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of mother–child pairs (N= 199) in Dammam, AlKhobar, and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Dental caries experience among children was determined using dmft/DMFT indexes following the World Health Organization’s guidelines. Maternal dental anxiety was assessed by using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS).ResultsThe mean ages of mothers and children were 33.98 ± 5.41 and 6.74 ± 2.29 years, respectively. The mean dmft score was 4.3 ± 3.99 in primary dentition and the mean maternal dental anxiety score was 13.89 ± 5.33. Ninety-two percent of mothers had low to extreme dental anxiety and only 8% reported no dental anxiety. Dental caries experience in primary teeth was higher in children of dentally anxious mothers (mean dmft 4.45 ± 3.92) than the children of mothers who were non-anxious (mean dmft 2.56 ± 4.59) (P=0.07). The mean maternal anxiety score was significantly higher in children with untreated decay in primary dentition (14.49 ± 5.08) than those with sound primary dentition (12.24 ± 5.67) (P = 0.008). The study also found a statistically significant correlation between maternal dental anxiety and untreated decay in the primary dentition (Pearson’s r =0.171, P = 0.015).ConclusionDental anxiety was highly prevalent among mothers in the present study. There was a significant relationship between maternal dental anxiety and untreated decay in the primary dentition. Awareness should be raised among dentally anxious mothers to reduce the burden of dental caries in their children.

Prevalencia de ansiedad dental en pacientes del servicio de odontología de dos hospitales del Ministerio de Salud del Perú

Objective: To determine the level of dental anxiety in dental patients from two hospitals managed by the Ministry of Health of Peru, between August-September 2015. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional, comparative, and observational study, carried out between August and September 2015, including a total of 660 adult patients from the Dental Service of the Hospitals Regional Docente de Trujillo and Belén de Trujillo, Peru. A questionnaire based on the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) (Cronbach's Alpha=0.77) was applied to the participating subjects. Student's t test for independent groups and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for the analysis of the results, considering a significance level of 5%. Results: The mean total anxiety score for the population was 12.05 (SD=3.76). Females (mean=12.56) presented greater anxiety than males (mean=11.53) (p<0.001), young adults (Me=12.60) presented greater anxiety than subjects in mid-adulthood (Me=11.10) (p<0.001). No difference was found in terms of hospitals (p=0.386); 96.06% of the patients evaluated presented dental anxiety, 4.09% had extreme anxiety. Conclusion: The mean dental anxiety of the studied population coincides with the level of moderate anxiety. Females and young adults presented greater anxiety. No difference was found with respect to hospitals. Likewise, 96.06% of the evaluated patients presented dental anxiety, 4.09% had extreme anxiety.

Effect of Heartfulness Meditation on Anxiety and Perceived Pain in Patients Undergoing Impacted Third Molar Surgery

Oral-maxillofacial surgical procedures like impacted third molar surgery (ITMS) may lead to increased perioperative anxiety and pain perception in patients. Psychological interventions like meditation have been shown to decrease acute anxiety levels in individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of heartfulness (HFN) meditation during ITMS. We hypothesized that heartfulness meditation would reduce the intraoperative anxiety and pain perception in patients undergoing ITMS procedures. The prospective interventional study included 60 participants. They were randomly assigned to heartfulness meditation group (26 participants) and control group (34 participants). The heartfulness meditation group was given meditation before their ITMS procedure. Perioperative anxiety and pain perception were assessed using the Spielberger State - Triat Anxiety Inventory (STAI - T, STAI - S), Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to describe the data. Inferential statistics such as Chi-square test, Unpaired T test and Pearson correlation were used to analyze the data. The heartfulness meditation group reported less intraoperative anxiety (STAI - S) compared to the control group which was statistically significant (P < 0.002). There was a positive correlation between triat and situational anxiety levels of the participants. There was no significant difference between the groups in relation to dental anxiety and intraoperative pain perception. A single session of heartfulness meditation was effective in reducing the intraoperative anxiety levels in impacted third molar surgery. However, its effectiveness in reducing dental anxiety and pain perception was not significant.

Assessment of dental anxiety using modified dental anxiety scale among adults with cleft lip and/or palate

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate dental anxiety levels among adults with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and compare to adults with no orofacial cleft. The study also intended to find out the impact of cleft severity, gender and age on the perceived dental anxiety. MethodsThe study was composed of a sample of 70 adult participants who received and completed dental treatments. After sending self-addressed envelopes with consent forms and Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) to 192 potential participants, 35 participants with CL/P (CL/P group) and 35 participants with no CL/P (control group), agreed to participate. Data were analysed using Mann–Whitney U test. A two-tailed P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results54.3% of adults with CL/P (23 females and 12 males, age range from 16 to 72 years) reported normal dental anxiety, while the remaining 45.7% reported moderate dental anxiety. No extreme dental anxiety were recorded in the CL/P group. These results were similar to the control group and there were no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). Female participants recorded higher median anxiety scores than male participants in the CL/P group, and participants with cleft lip had higher median scores than participants with cleft lip and palate. However, these were not statistically significant. ConclusionThe results suggest that CL/P did not affect dental anxiety levels for participants with the CL/P as there were no extreme cases and their results were comparable to a general non-cleft sample.

Evaluation of the relationship among dental fear, scaling and root planing and periodontal status using periodontitis stages: A retrospective study

Background/purposePatients with periodontal disease have higher dental fear levels, which may have negative effects on their clinical outcome during scaling and root planing (SRP). The present study used the new classification of periodontitis and validated questionnaires to assess the relationship among dental fear, SRP pain and periodontal status. Materials and methodsA total of 120 periodontitis patients were enrolled and staging according to the new classification of periodontitis. SRP was performed, and the visual analog scale (VAS) to assess pain was used with every patient after treatment. Questionnaires, including Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), Dental Fear Survey (DFS), and short-form Dental Anxiety Inventory (S-DAI) were implemented from the first attendance and subsequent visits after 6 months. The patients were grouped by DAS scores. The statistical analysis was performed using T-test, chi-square, Pearson and Spearman correlative analysis. ResultsCompared to pre-SRP treatment, the dental fear level on DFS was decreased in the posttreatment period for all periodontitis stages. There were no statistically significant differences in S-DAI and DAS between pretreatment and posttreatment periods in stage I and II; meanwhile, there were statistically differences in stage III and IV. The correlation among periodontitis stages, VAS and dental fear level was significant. The proportion of high periodontitis stages was increased in high dental fear group. ConclusionSRP can reduce dental fear levels in all periodontitis stages, especially in stage III and IV. Correlations exist among periodontal status, dental fear and SRP pain. High dental fear is associated with poor periodontal status.

Psychosocial impacts of oral epithelial dysplasia.

The psychosocial impact of receiving the diagnosis of oral epithelial dysplasia, which presents up to 3.5% increased annual risk of mouth cancer, remains unknown. Using validated instruments, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and existing correlations between anxiety, depression and dental anxiety symptoms and burden on oral health-related quality of life. A clinical cohort of 82 patients with oral dysplasia was asked to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale and the shortened version of the Oral Health Impact Profile. Spearman's correlation coefficient and regression analyses were performed. The participants' scores were in keeping with the presence of anxiety, depression and emotional distress symptoms in 30%, 16% and 26%, respectively. However, 69% experienced anxiety related to procedures that may be required as part of long-term management of oral dysplasia (e.g. local anaesthetic injection). The oral health-related quality of life scores showed 41.5% reporting a recent daily problem due to their oral or dental health. Significant correlations [p>0.05] were found among and between all of the used instruments. Being a female with oral dysplasia also predicted increased odds of indicating higher anxiety and dental anxiety scores than males [p>0.05]. Oral dysplasia can adversely impact on the psychosocial well-being of affected persons. Establishing a causal relationship between the measured variables may, however, be challenging and would need further longitudinal studies.

Exploring Dental Anxiety among Male and Female across Adolescents, Young Adults, and Middle Adults

Introduction: Dental anxiety is a state of uneasiness and worry, making the patient feels that something terrible will happen to him regarding dental treatment and procedure. Research suggests that dental anxiety is a prominent factor in leading to avoidance of dental treatment by the patients. The intensity of dental anxiety varies individually and across gender. Research suggests that adopting healthy dental care habits encourages good oral health, contributing to the quality of life, whereas poor dental habits can lead to dental problems. Therefore, the present study attempts to explore the level of dental anxiety and dental care habits across age groups and gender. Methods: The sample consists of 150 patients from Delhi/National Capital Region. They were divided into three age groups – adolescence (n = 50), young adulthood (n = 50), and middle adulthood (n = 50). Modified Dental Anxiety Scale was used to assess dental anxiety and a semi-structured interview was taken to assess the level of dental hygiene among the patients. Results: there are statistically significant differences in dental anxiety scores between males and females. Our results also point that these gender differences persist across age groups – adolescence, young adulthood, and middle adulthood on dental anxiety. Conclusion: The findings reveal higher dental anxiety levels among adolescents, which gradually increase with age. Furthermore, females are more susceptible to have dental anxiety than males. Thus, dental professionals should provide age and gender-targeted counseling to avoid dental anxiety among their patients.

Effect of opaque eye coverage on anxiety in candidates for surgical removal of impacted third molars: a randomized clinical trial

To assess the effects of opaque eye coverage on anxiety in candidates for surgical removal of impacted third molars. This randomized clinical trial was conducted in candidates for surgical extraction of bilateral, vertical, class IC impacted maxillary third molars or bilateral, mesioangular class IC impacted mandibular third molars. Patients with moderate anxiety (dental anxiety scale range, 9-14) were selected. Surgical extraction of the bilateral third molars was performed in 2 separate visits with and without covering the eyes using surgical drapes. Pulse rate (PR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), and respiratory rate (RR) were measured immediately after surgery. Moreover, after surgery, the patients were asked to rate their dental anxiety on a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 10. The collected data were used for statistical analysis. Sixty patients with a mean age of 21.31 years participated in the study. PR, systolic BP, RR, and VAS were significantly higher with eye coverage (P < .001). Diastolic BP was not significantly different between the 2 surgical sessions (with or without eye coverage) (P=.157). In patients with moderate dental anxiety, covering the eyes during surgical extraction of third molars may contribute to the increase of dental anxiety.

The effect of playing background music during dental treatment on dental anxiety and physiological parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the scientific literature concerning the effect of playing background music on anxiety and physiological parameters in patients undergoing dental treatment. MEDLINE-PubMed, Cochrane-CENTRAL, and EMBASE were searched for papers up to September 2020. Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trails (CCTs) among adolescents and adults that assessed anxiety (AX), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), or respiratory rate (RR). Data before and after treatment were extracted and the potential risk of bias was estimated. Descriptive analysis and meta-analysis were performed. Thirteen eligible studies (12 RCTs, 1 CCT) were retrieved, with an estimated low to high risk of bias. Descriptive analysis showed an effect on AX in favor of music intervention, while no effect on SBP and DBP was found. The effect on HR and RR was inconsistent among studies. Meta-analysis showed a significant difference of means (DiffM) for the end scores of AX (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS)) and incremental scores (CDAS) in favor of music intervention. Dental care professionals may consider playing background music while treating adolescent and adult patients. There is a moderate certainty that this can provide a small reduction in dental anxiety. With very low to moderate certainty, no effect on physiologic parameters can be expected.

The influence of distinct techniques of local dental anesthesia in 9- to 12-year-old children: randomized clinical trial on pain and anxiety.

To evaluate pain, disruptive behavior, and anxiety in children undergoing different local dental anesthetic techniques. This randomized/parallel clinical trial analyzed three groups of patients (9-12 years old) (n = 35) who received infiltrative anesthesia using conventional (CA), vibrational (VBA), and computer-controlled techniques (CCLAD). The outcomes were pain self-perception (Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBF); Numerical Ranting Scale (NRS)), disruptive behavior (Face, Legg, Activity, Crying, Consolability Scale (FLACC)), anxiety (Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale; modified Venham Picture test (VPTm)), and physiological parameters (systolic (SBP)/diastolic pressure (DBP); heart rate (HR); oxygen saturation (SpO2); respiratory rate (RR)). Statistical analysis was accomplished using Kruskall-Wallis test and ANOVA for repeated measures (α = 0.05). Dental anxiety levels at the baseline were similar for all patients. CA promoted less pain than VBA in WBF (p = 0.018) and NRS (p = 0.006) and CCLAD in WBF (p = 0.029). There were no differences in disruptive behavior (FLACC p = 0.573), anxiety (VPTm p = 0.474), blood pressure (SBP p = 0.954; DBP p = 0.899), heart rate (p = 0.726), oxygen saturation (p = 0.477), and respiratory rate (p = 0.930) between anesthetic techniques. Conventional technique resulted in less pain perception for dental local anesthesia. Conventional technique reduces the self-reported pain in children 9-12 years old, and therefore, the use of additional devices or different anesthetic techniques is not justified.

Examining Parental Treatment Decisions Within a Contemporary Pediatric Dentistry Private Practice.

PurposeThe primary objective of this study was to compare relationships between child, parent, and clinical factors with patient-level treatment decisions for early childhood caries. A secondary objective was to describe children that received silver diamine fluoride (SDF) as interim versus long-term treatment.Patients and MethodsParents of 2–6-year-old children seeking care at a multi-center pediatric dentistry private practice were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Demographic data and dental anxiety data according to the Modified Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale were collected via questionnaire. A dental visit behavior rating and decayed, missing, and filled tooth (dmft) index were recorded from the child’s dental record. The primary outcome was treatment decision categorized into three groups: (1) treatment with SDF (n=25), (2) conventional restorative treatment under local anesthesia (n=32), and (3) restorative treatment under general anesthesia (n=33). Analyses included descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and ordered logistic regression.ResultsChild age, parent education level, family income, dental insurance status, dental visit behavior rating, and dmft were significantly different across treatment groups in bivariate comparisons. However, when included in multivariable, ordered logistic regression, child dental anxiety was the only significant covariate associated with treatment decisions (Odds Ratio=5.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.51 to 16.63). In secondary analysis, two distinct subgroups were identified within the SDF group: one as long-term treatment (n=9) and one as interim treatment prior to general anesthesia (n=16). The long-term group was younger (mean=3.2 versus 3.7), had lower dmft (mean=4 versus 11.1), and had lower frequency of very high dental anxiety (0% versus 15%).ConclusionThe present study identified child dental anxiety as the primary factor associated with treatment decisions at this private practice. The characterization of two subgroups of children treated with SDF has meaningful implications for studies evaluating the economic and public health impacts of SDF.

Assessment Of Dental Anxiety among Patients Requiring Dental Treatment with Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale - A Questionnaire Survey

Assessment Of Dental Anxiety among Patients Requiring Dental Treatment with Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale - A Questionnaire Survey

The Prevalence and Impact of Dental Anxiety Among Adult New Zealanders

ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence and impact of dental anxiety in the New Zealand adult population.MethodsSecondary analysis of data from the 2009 New Zealand national oral health survey. Dental anxiety was measured using the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS).ResultsThe prevalence of dental anxiety was 13.3% (95% CI = 11.4, 15.6). On average, DAS scores were higher by 14% among females, lower among those in the oldest age group (55+), higher by 10% among those in the European/Other ethnic category, and higher by 10% among those residing in the most deprived neighbourhoods. Those who were dentally anxious had greater oral disease experience and were less likely to have visited a dentist within the previous 12 months. They also had poorer oral health-related quality of life, with the highest prevalence of OHIP-14 impacts observed in dentally anxious 35- to 54-year-olds.ConclusionsDental anxiety is a dental public health problem. It is an important contributor to poor oral health and care avoidance among New Zealanders. There is a need to develop both clinical and population-level interventions aimed at reducing the condition's prevalence and impact.

Assessment of dental anxiety and dental phobia among adults in Lebanon

BackgroundDental anxiety continues to be a widespread problem affecting adult populations. The primary aim of our study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Lebanese Arabic version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS-A) and to identify the optimal cut-off for assessing dental anxiety and dental phobia among adults in Lebanon. In addition, we sought to assess dental anxiety and phobia as well as their correlates among Lebanese adult patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 451 dental adult patients aged between 18 and 65 years old. Information about demographic characteristics, previous bad dental experience, trauma’s experience period, perception of a periodontal problem, sensation of nausea during dental treatment, the MDAS-A scale, and the Visual Analogue Scale for anxiety (VAS-A) were collected.ResultsMDAS-A exhibited evidence of adequate psychometric properties. The optimal cut-off was 12 for dental anxiety and 14 for dental phobia. Out of the total sample, 31.5% suffered from dental anxiety while 22.4% had a dental phobia. Multivariable analysis showed that the odds of dental anxiety and phobia were higher among females compared to males. Also, patients suffering from periodontal problem perceptions, bad dental experiences during childhood and adolescence, and the sensation of nausea during dental treatment were at a higher risk of developing dental anxiety and phobia compared to their counterparts. However, a higher level of education was found to be a protective factor against dental phobia among Lebanese adult patients.ConclusionThe MDAS-A scale is a suitable tool for the routine assessment of dental anxiety and phobia among Lebanese adult patients. Identifying patients with dental anxiety at the earliest opportunity is of utmost importance for delivering successful dental care.

The Use of a Respiratory Biofeedback Device to Reduce Dental Anxiety in Children: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Introduction: Dental anxiety occurs when the patient presents to the dentist with the anticipation of dental treatment. Many children react to dental stressful situations through uncooperative behaviors. Objectives: Investigate the effect of a respiratory biofeedback device (RESPeRATETM) in reduction of preoperative anxiety in children undergoing dental procedures under local anesthesia. Materials and methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial comprising 110 healthy children, of age range 7-12 years, were selected. Their scores were 19 or more according to the Faces version of Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: Study and Control group. For both groups, heart rate was recorded prior to local anesthesia administration and a salivary sample was collected to measure the salivary amylase. The study group was submitted to a session of respiratory biofeedback “RESPeRATETM”. The control group was managed by a routine behavioral management technique “Tell, Show and Do”. Infiltration or block local anesthesia injections were administered, after which heart rate measurement and salivary sample was repeated. T and paired T tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Heart rate decreased significantly in the study group (P=0.001), and increased significantly in the control group (P=0.002). There were non-significant changes among both groups regarding salivary amylase. A weak correlation was found between heart rate and salivary amylase. Conclusions: “RESPeRATETM” group showed a decrease in dental anxiety, as evidenced by decreased heart rate. “RESPeRATETM” can be used effectively before dental procedures for anxious children. Salivary alpha amylase was a poor stress biomarker.

Association of Dental Treatment Related Anxiety with Sterilization Concerns Among Patients

Introduction: To assess the anxiety related to dental treatment and its association with sterilization concerns in dentalpatientsMethodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 patients visiting the dental OPD of SharifMedical and Dental College, Lahore from June 2019 to June 2020. A questionnaire regarding level of dental anxiety wasgiven to the patients. Data was collected using a pre-validated scale with a Cronbach alpha value of 0.89; Modified DentalAnxiety Scale (MDAS). Levels of anxiety was categorized as high level of anxiety (score &gt;19) and moderate to low anxiety(score&lt;18).Results: There was no statistically significant association between the level of dental anxiety due to sterilization concerns(p=0.250). Gender had a non-significant association while age (p=0.001) and marital status (p=0.002) and level of education(p=0.020) had a significant association with dental anxiety due to sterilization concerns.Conclusion: Most of the patients reported to feel anxious moderately before dental treatment because of sterilizationconcerns. A higher percentage of females, the age group 18 to 29 years and patients with tertiary level of educationreported the highest percentage of anxiety due to sterilization concerns during dental treatment.

Are anxiety and the presence of siblings risk factors for dental neglect and oral health status in children?

ObjectiveNeglect has a negative effect on all aspects of a child's overall health. Dental neglect is the intentional failure of parents or caregivers to take precautions and ensure the necessary dental treatment, and is closely related to dental caries and anxiety. We aimed to determine whether the presence of siblings causes dental neglect, and whether there is a relationship between dental neglect and anxiety. MethodsThe cross-sectional study included 100 children and their parents. The children's oral health status was evaluated using the DMFT/dmft and PUFA/pufa indices. In addition, the parents completed the Dental Neglect Scale and a questionnaire, while the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale was administered to the children to assess their dental anxiety. ResultsMultivariate linear regression analysis showed that the number of children in the family was statistically significantly associated with DMFT/dmft (β=2.963; P<0.001), PUFA/pufa (β=1.271; P=0.005), and dental neglect scores (β=5.449; P<0.001). The PUFA/pufa scores were statistically higher among children who had visited a dentist before (β=1.181; P=0.043). ConclusionsThe high level of dental anxiety and neglect in children with more than one sibling indicates that families should be more aware of the importance of oral health.

Single-channel electroencephalography and its associations with anxiety and pain during oral surgery: a preliminary report

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the course of anxiety and pain during lower third molar (LTMo) surgery and explore the role of mobile and single-channel electroencephalography under clinical and surgical conditions.MethodsThe State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), and Interval Scale of Anxiety Response (ISAR) were used. The patient self-rated anxiety (PSA), the pain felt during and after surgery, EEG, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) were assessed.ResultsThe Attention (ATT) and Meditation (MED) algorithms and indicators evaluated in this study showed several associations. ATT showed interactions and an association with STAI-S, pain during surgery, PSA level, HR, and surgical duration. MED showed an interaction and association with DAS, STAI-S, and pain due to anesthesia. Preclinical anxiety parameters may influence clinical perceptions and biological parameters during LTMo surgeries. High STAI-Trait and PSA scores were associated with postoperative pain, whereas high STAI-State scores were associated with more pain during anesthesia and surgery, as well as DAS, which was also associated with patient interference during surgery due to anxiety.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that single-channel EEG is promising for evaluating brain responses associated with systemic reactions related to anxiety, surgical stress, and pain during oral surgery.