Multimodal perspectives on dental anxiety etiology and technologies

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Dental anxiety is a prevalent issue affecting oral health, quality of life, and dental care efficiency.
• It often stems from psychological, physiological, and early negative experiences, persisting into adulthood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the assessment tools and management strategies for dental anxiety.
• To highlight the effectiveness of various interventions in improving patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Review of established and emerging assessment tools like the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), Dental Fear Scale (DFS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Venham Picture Test (VPT), and Facial Image Scale (FIS).
• Exploration of management strategies including behavioral (rapport building, cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation), pharmacological (nitrous oxide, sedation, oral benzodiazepines), and technological (virtual reality, augmented reality, audiovisual distraction, biofeedback).

Main Results:

• Various validated scales effectively assess dental anxiety severity and identify triggers in adults and children.
• Multimodal management approaches combining behavioral, pharmacological, and technological interventions show promising results in reducing anxiety and improving cooperation.
• Emerging technologies offer innovative, non-invasive methods for anxiety management.

Conclusions:

• Comprehensive assessment and tailored, multimodal management plans are crucial for addressing dental anxiety.
• Integrating diverse strategies leads to enhanced patient cooperation and improved long-term oral health.
• Further research into emerging technologies can refine anxiety management protocols.