Dental Anxiety Measurement

Question 1

Name some ways we can measure anxiety and dental beliefs

Answer 1

The Modified Dental Anxiety Scale
Dental Anxiety Inventory
Dental Beliefs survey
Dental locus of control
Dental self-efficacy scale

Question 2

What are the 3 sub scales of the dental belief survey?

Answer 2

1. Professionalism
2. Communication
3. Lack of control

Question 3

What are some of the patients fears linked to professionalism according to the dental belief survey?

Answer 3

Patients are concerned about:

1. Competency of the dentist to complete the dental work to a high standard
2. Competency of the dentist to give patients appropriate and correct information
3. Competency of the dentist to care for the patients needs

Question 4

What are some of the patients fears linked to communication according to the dental belief survey?

Answer 4

Issues seem to surround:
1. Dentist taking time to really explain what is happening
2. feeling uncomfortable about asking questions as if the dentist seems aloof and unapproachable it will not be easy to speak to them
Big issue of empathy and not making patients feel guilty abut their teeth and appreciating any anxiety of fear they may have

Question 5

What are some of the patients fears linked to lack of control according to the dental belief survey?

Answer 5

1. Patient feels like they won’t be listened to from the get go
2. Importance of letting patient know from outset can take breaks
3. If patients says they are in pain – believe them – stop signals

Question 6

What is the dental locus of control?

Answer 6

The extent to which an individual feels in control of the events which influence their life

Question 7

What does the dental self efficacy scale focus on?

Answer 7

Confidence in your ability

Question 8

What is a major reason for a patient changing from anxious to non-anxious?

Answer 8

Personal liking for the dentist

Question 9

List the techniques we can use to control pain and anxietY?

Answer 9

1. Communication 
2, Behaviour management 
3. Local anaesthetic 
4. Inhalation sedation
5. Intravenous sedation 
6. General anaesthesia

Question 10

What techniques can use to reassure a patent?

Answer 10

1. Give the patient information
   2, Modelling for example if you model calmness then your patient may be calmer
2. Control your tone, pitch and volume
3. Hypnosis

Question 11

Name the 4 ethos of relaxation

Answer 11

1. Progressive – tense a group of muscles and then release
2. Release only – release a group of muscles
3. Cue controlled – focus on specifics ie inhale, exhale, relax
4. Differential – practice relaxing in different environments

Question 12

How can we relax a patient by using pharmaceuticals?

Answer 12

1. Use nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
2. IV sedation
3. General anaesthetic