Progressive muscle relaxation therapy to relieve dental anxiety: a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Dental anxiety causes patients to refuse or delay treatment, which may exacerbate oral diseases. The aim of the current randomized controlled trial was to determine whether progressive muscle relaxation therapy could relieve dental anxiety. The trial included 68 periodontal patients with dental anxiety scores of ≥13 who were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group (n = 34 per group). The intervention group was administered progressive muscle relaxation therapy for 20 min and oral health education for 15 min before periodontal treatment once per week for 4 wk. The control group was provided with oral health education only, for the same duration. Changes in dental anxiety, depression symptoms, blood pressure, heart rate, and salivary cortisol were evaluated 4 wk and 3 months after the intervention. The intervention group exhibited statistically significantly greater reductions in dental anxiety scores than did the control group at the 4-wk (-3.82 vs. -0.89) and 3-month (-4.22 vs. -0.28) assessments. They also exhibited significantly greater reductions in depression symptoms, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, and salivary cortisol levels at both time-points. Progressive muscle relaxation therapy relieves tension and anxiety in dental patients.
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Muscle relaxation therapy has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol in the body.
“MRT has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol in the body.”
From Novel non-pharmacological strategies for managing dentophobia in adult patients - literature review (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
Progressive muscle relaxation therapy might be beneficial in reducing dentophobia.
“The study concluded that PMRT might be beneficial in reducing dentophobia.”
From Novel non-pharmacological strategies for managing dentophobia in adult patients - literature review (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
Muscle relaxation therapy lowers heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure by suppressing the sympathetic nervous system and inducing a relaxed state.
“By inducing a relaxed state, muscle relaxation therapy lowers heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure, which are elevated during anxiety.”
From Novel non-pharmacological strategies for managing dentophobia in adult patients - literature review (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
Progressive muscle relaxation therapy significantly reduced depressive symptoms, blood pressure, pulse rate, and salivary cortisol levels in participants.
“The intervention significantly reduced depressive symptoms, blood pressure, pulse rate, and salivary cortisol levels in participants.”
From Novel non-pharmacological strategies for managing dentophobia in adult patients - literature review (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
Progressive muscle relaxation therapy over four sessions effectively alleviated dental anxiety for at least three months following the intervention.
“The study found that PMRT over four sessions effectively alleviated anxiety for at least three months following the intervention [17].”
From Novel non-pharmacological strategies for managing dentophobia in adult patients - literature review (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
Overall evidence suggests progressive muscle relaxation therapy is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for managing odontophobia.
“Overall, the evidence presented in the study suggests that PMRT is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for managing odontophobia.”
From Novel non-pharmacological strategies for managing dentophobia in adult patients - literature review (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
Cites
Effect of psychological stress on the salivary cortisol and amylase levels in healthy young adults
Takai, N., Yamaguchi, M., Aragaki, T., Eto, K., Uchihashi, K., & Nishikawa, Y. (2004) · Archives of Oral Biology · doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2004.06.007 · Cited by 568 · cited 2× · see citing works
“with that of a previous study which reported a significant decrease in anxiety in fracture patients who received progressive muscle relaxation therapy every morning and afternoon during hospitalization (13).”
BackgroundResultRandomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for prehypertension
Hughes, J. W., Fresco, D. M., Myerscough, R., H. M. van Dulmen, M., Carlson, L. E., & Josephson, R. (2013) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/psy.0b013e3182a3e4e5 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
members of the Conquer Fear Authorship Group, Butow, P. N., Bell, M. L., Smith, A. B., Fardell, J. E., Thewes, B., Turner, J., Gilchrist, J., Beith, J., Girgis, A., et al. (2013) · BMC Cancer · doi:10.1186/1471-2407-13-201 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
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Novel non-pharmacological strategies for managing dentophobia in adult patients - literature review
Los, A., Fiegler-Rudol, J., Tysiąc-Miśta, M., & Tanasiewicz, M. (2024) · Wiadomości Lekarskie · doi:10.36740/wlek202408112 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Park, E. S., Yim, H. W., & Lee, K. S.
- Affiliations
- Hyejeon College (KR)
- Catholic University of Korea (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Lee, Kang S.
- Venue
- European Journal of Oral Sciences
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-11-14
- Volume
- 127
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 45-51
- ISSN
- 0029-845X (ISSN-L)
- 0909-8836
- 1600-0722
- OpenAlex
- W2901221301
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3
- FWCI
- 3.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal Of Oral Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Catholic University of Korea
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Oral Surgery › Dental Anxiety and Anesthesia Techniques
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Music Therapy and Health
- Keywords
- progressive muscle relaxation, dental anxiety, periodontal treatment, oral health education, depressive symptoms, salivary cortisol, blood pressure, heart rate, relaxation training
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Autogenic Training, Blood Pressure, Depression, Female, Health Education, Dental, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Periodontal Diseases, Periodontal Index, Dental Anxiety
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