IADR Abstract Archives
The Use of Dental Anxiety Management Techniques During One-Session Treatment
Objectives: The study aimed to examine the dentists’ utilization of dental anxiety management techniques in the context of an intervention study.
Methods: The one-session treatment for dentally anxious adults was conducted by two clinically experienced dentists (> five years of experience) who were not formally trained in behavioral management techniques. Diagnostic interviews conducted by the researcher before treatments included information on the severity of the patient’s dental anxiety, previous dental attendance behavior, the experience of the previous dental visit, possible negative experiences of dental care, and wishes for treatment.
The data consisted of five video-recorded treatment sessions for five dentally anxious patients. Four of the voluntary participants scored 19 points or above and one scored 13 points in the Modified Dental Anxiety scale. Theory-driven qualitative content analysis was used to identify and classify techniques applied by dentists according to Milgrom’s classification, consisting of specific strategies to enhance trust and control, in addition to behavioral, cognitive, practical, and pharmacological strategies.
Results: Altogether, five categories of techniques were identified under two main themes: enhancing trust and control, and psychological management. Typically, the techniques fell into enhancing trust and control, and they included the categories of ‘building a trustful relationship’, ‘informational control’, and ‘behavioral control’. Different techniques were frequently applied throughout the sessions according to patient-specific needs, oral health, and dental treatment situations. In addition, we identified psychological management techniques that were classified into the categories of ‘behavioral strategies: relaxing the body’ and ‘cognitive strategies: relaxing the mind’. These techniques were regularly implemented in specific situations that aroused strong anxiety and changes in breathing or in muscular tension. The techniques were often used simultaneously.
Conclusions: Techniques utilized by skillful dentists included a variety of specific techniques manifested in a versatile and tailored manner. The findings provide dentists with useful information on encountering anxious patients in their everyday work.
Methods: The one-session treatment for dentally anxious adults was conducted by two clinically experienced dentists (> five years of experience) who were not formally trained in behavioral management techniques. Diagnostic interviews conducted by the researcher before treatments included information on the severity of the patient’s dental anxiety, previous dental attendance behavior, the experience of the previous dental visit, possible negative experiences of dental care, and wishes for treatment.
The data consisted of five video-recorded treatment sessions for five dentally anxious patients. Four of the voluntary participants scored 19 points or above and one scored 13 points in the Modified Dental Anxiety scale. Theory-driven qualitative content analysis was used to identify and classify techniques applied by dentists according to Milgrom’s classification, consisting of specific strategies to enhance trust and control, in addition to behavioral, cognitive, practical, and pharmacological strategies.
Results: Altogether, five categories of techniques were identified under two main themes: enhancing trust and control, and psychological management. Typically, the techniques fell into enhancing trust and control, and they included the categories of ‘building a trustful relationship’, ‘informational control’, and ‘behavioral control’. Different techniques were frequently applied throughout the sessions according to patient-specific needs, oral health, and dental treatment situations. In addition, we identified psychological management techniques that were classified into the categories of ‘behavioral strategies: relaxing the body’ and ‘cognitive strategies: relaxing the mind’. These techniques were regularly implemented in specific situations that aroused strong anxiety and changes in breathing or in muscular tension. The techniques were often used simultaneously.
Conclusions: Techniques utilized by skillful dentists included a variety of specific techniques manifested in a versatile and tailored manner. The findings provide dentists with useful information on encountering anxious patients in their everyday work.