Anxiety sensitivity as a predictor of anxiety and pain related to third molar removal

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) refers to the fear of anxiety-related symptoms resulting from beliefs that such sensations have negative somatic, social, or psychological consequences. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether AS can predict both anticipated and experienced pain and state and trait anxiety related to third molar removal.

Data were collected from 160 patients who had completed measures of anxiety sensitivity, including the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, the short form of the Fear of Dental Pain questionnaire, the short form of the Dental Anxiety Inventory, and numeric rating scales to assess the anticipated anxiety and pain. Postoperatively, patients were asked to rate their experienced anxiety and pain during treatment, first immediately after surgery and again after 2 days and after 1 week.

AS was significantly associated with the severity of dental trait anxiety. However, multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that AS did not significantly predict anticipated and experienced anxiety and pain beyond that of state anxiety and fear of dental pain. State anxiety was the single best predictor of trait anxiety and pain, followed by the fear of dental pain.

In the present study, AS did not predict anxiety and pain related to third molar removal. One possible explanation is that most measures were taken postoperatively, a period in which anticipatory anxiety is irrelevant.