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Cited by 111Dental Anxiety and Anesthesia TechniquesDental Radiography and ImagingAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Management strategies for adult patients with dental anxiety in the dental clinic: a systematic review

Open access
Hoffmann, B, Erwood, K, Ncomanzi, S, Fischer, V, O'Brien, D, Lee, A·2022·Australian Dental Journal
DOI 10.1111/adj.12926PMC PMC9796536
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Abstract

Anxiety is an adaptive emotional response to potentially threatening or dangerous situations; moderated by the sympathetic nervous system. Dental anxiety is common and presents before, during or after dental treatment. The physiological response includes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and cardiac output. Consequently, extensive distress leads to avoidance of dental treatment and multiple failed appointments, impacting both oral and general health. Dental anxiety can generate a variety of negative consequences for both the dentist and the patient. Evidence‐based strategies are essential for mitigating and relieving anxiety in the dental clinic. Psychotherapeutic behavioural strategies can modify the patient's experience through a minimally invasive approach with nil or negligible side effects, depending on patient characteristics, anxiety level and clinical situations. These therapies involve muscle relaxation, guided imagery, physiological monitoring, utilizing biofeedback, hypnosis, acupuncture, distraction and desensitization. Pharmacological intervention utilizes either relative analgesia (nitrous oxide), conscious intravenous sedation or oral sedation, which can have undesirable side effects, risks and contraindications. These modalities increase the cost and availability of dental treatment.

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  • Dentophobia can lead to avoidance of dental care, resulting in more complex and urgent dental conditions such as periodontitis, tooth loss, and general deterioration of oral health.

    “This severe anxiety can lead to avoidance of dental care, resulting in potentially more complex and urgent dental conditions in the future such as periodontitis, which leads to tooth loss and general deterioration of oral health.”

    From Novel non-pharmacological strategies for managing dentophobia in adult patients - literature review (2024) · cites this paper as [1]

    The Introduction (page not provided) says dental anxiety can lead to avoidance of treatment and negatively affect oral health. It does not identify more complex or urgent conditions, periodontitis, or tooth loss as consequences. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Without proper management, odontophobia can prevent patients from seeking necessary dental treatments, which is detrimental to oral health and general well-being.

    “Without proper management, odontophobia can prevent patients from seeking necessary dental treatments, which is detrimental not only to oral health but also general well-being [1].”

    From Novel non-pharmacological strategies for managing dentophobia in adult patients - literature review (2024) · cites this paper as [1]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Hoffmann, B., Erwood, K., Ncomanzi, S., Fischer, V, O'Brien, D., & Lee, A.
Affiliations
  • James Cook University (AU)
  • College of Medicine & Dentistry James Cook University Smithfield Queensland Australia
  • Special Needs Specialist Dentist Westmead Centre for Oral Health Westmead New South Wales Australia
Corresponding author
Erwood, K
ORCID
Erwood, K
Venue
Australian Dental Journal
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2022-03
Volume
67
Issue
S1
Pages
S3-S13
ISSN
  • 0045-0421 (ISSN-L)
  • 1834-7819
DOI
10.1111/adj.12926
PMC
PMC9796536
OpenAlex
W4283331157
Cited by
111
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 34 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1
FWCI
3.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Australian Dental Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ResearchOnline - JCU (James Cook University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Oral Surgery › Dental Anxiety and Anesthesia Techniques
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Oral Surgery › Dental Radiography and Imaging
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
dental anxiety, anxiety reduction, psychotherapeutic interventions, muscle relaxation, guided imagery, biofeedback, hypnosis, acupuncture, distraction, desensitization, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, sympathetic response
MeSH terms
Adult, Anesthesia, Anesthesia, Dental, Dental Clinics, Humans, Conscious Sedation, Procedural Sedation, Dental Anxiety

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