Study Uncovers Three Main Causes of Dental Anxiety Onset

Many individuals experience feelings of distress, fear, and nervousness during routine dental visits, which can often lead to avoidance of dental care and worsened oral health outcomes. Recognizing the importance of understanding the roots of dental anxiety, researchers from Temple University's Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry have conducted a comprehensive study to identify the primary origins of this common issue.

The research, published in Frontiers in Oral Health, involved evaluating patient-reported experiences to explore how dental anxiety develops and persists. Led by lead author Elizabeth Konneker, along with colleagues Amid Ismail, Eugene M. Dunne, and Marisol Tellez, the team focused on understanding the psychological mechanisms behind dental fear and how interventions like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can mitigate it.

The study found that there are three key origins for dental anxiety: a traumatic dental experience in childhood, a traumatic event involving dental treatment in adulthood, and a persistent, longstanding feeling of anxiety without a specific traumatic incident. Common contributing factors include the loss of control during treatment, mistrust in the dental provider, and the fear of pain.

Prevalence data highlights that approximately 19% of adults and 24% of children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from dental anxiety. The researchers used data from a clinical trial led by Tellez, which tested an online CBT-based intervention aimed at reducing dental anxiety among patients. Participants were randomly assigned to different groups to evaluate the intervention's efficacy, which showed promising results in reducing avoidant coping strategies such as listening to music or fidgeting during dental visits.

Assessments using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and the Fear Questionnaire Blood-Injury Injections Subscale (FQBII) revealed that those employing avoidant strategies often experienced higher anxiety levels. Notably, patients reported over time that they replaced avoidance with coping thoughts, indicating improvement with intervention.

The research emphasizes that normalizing dental anxiety and equipping patients with effective coping tools is vital. The findings also demonstrate that targeted interventions like CBT can lessen the reliance on avoidant behaviors and foster healthier attitudes towards dental care.

Overall, this study enhances our understanding of how dental anxiety develops and points towards effective strategies for managing it, ultimately helping patients achieve better oral health outcomes.