Dental Anxiety Flashcards
What is the difference between anxiety and fear?
Anxiety is non-specific
What is a phobia?
It is a marked, persistent and irrational fear which interferes with normal life
What is a method of measuring anxiety?
The MADS – using the physiological, cognitive, behavioural, health and social impacts.
Why is paying attention to anxiety?
Anxiety affects the behaviour of our patients, thus those patients are more likely to suffer from greater dental problems. They also may not come to their appointments, which creates stress for the health system.
How do people become dentally anxious/fearful? What theoretical explanations have been proposed?
- Behavioural learning theories - conditioning
- Social learning theory – observing leads to imitation
- Cognitive learning theories – thoughts about experience produces fear
What is classical conditioning?
Stimulus lead to response. Association pairing.
What is operant conditioning?
It is conditioning of a voluntary behavioural response as a result of associating the behaviour with its consequences. Use of positive and negative reinforcement.
How to measure anxiety and fear?
Using different scales:
Dental anxiety question
Dental anxiety scale
Modified dental anxiety scale – includes dental injections
Dental fear survey
Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear
How do we approach dental anxiety and fear?
Use a preventive approach
- Prevent anxiety/fear acquisition
- Prevent anxiety/fear maintenance
- Prevent transmission to children
What are the methods to help with dental anxiety?
- Tailor to the needs of the patient
- Effective communication
- Ask patient
- Planning gradual Tx increments
- Use relaxation methods – progressive muscle relaxation or controlled breathing
- Tell-show-do
- Behavioural modelling
- Control enhancement
