No need to grit teeth
For the average Joe working up the courage to go to the dentist is like pulling teeth. The fear of needles, suction tools and the sound of teeth being pulled can send almost anyone running from the dentist’s office. But a new study by James Cook University looking at what causes fear of the dentist has found a friendly dentist can turn those fears on their head. The students surveyed patients at the JCU Dental Clinic, asking them about their anxiety levels before and after their appointments.
FOR the average Joe working up the courage to go to the dentist is like pulling teeth.
The fear of needles, suction tools and the sound of teeth being pulled can send almost anyone running from the dentist’s surgery.
But a new study by James Cook University examining what causes the fear of the dentist has found a friendly dentist can turn those fears on their head.
The study, a collaboration between psychology researcher Associate Professor Marie Caltabiano and senior lecturer in dentistry Dr Felicity Croker, along with fourth-year dentistry students, found a happy, confident dentist could allay fears.
The students surveyed patients at the JCU Dental Clinic, asking them about their anxiety levels before and after their appointments.
“We know dental anxiety plays a central role in the avoidance of dental treatment,” Assoc Prof Caltabiano said.
“There is a cycle in which dentally-anxious people avoid dental care and leave their oral health issues to worsen, until unbearable symptoms drive them to seek treatment.
“This pattern reinforces the fear of dental treatment and feelings of dental anxiety.
“Also, we know that those who have high levels of dental fear have poor oral health habits, which actually increases the need for treatment at check-ups.”
More than 100 patients took part in the study, which found that female patients reported higher dental anxiety than males, and younger patients were more anxious than older patients.
“This was an important study because it was the students who initially raised the issue of anxiety and wanted to know more about how to help patients deal with their fears,” Dr Croker said.
“Many patients at the clinic have put off treatment for some time, often because of anxiety.”
The survey found that drills, needles and long appointments all caused anxiety in dental patients.
“We also looked at what could help patients feel less anxious,” Assoc Prof Caltabiano said.
“The results show that if the patient perceives their dentist — in this case a student dentist — to have good clinical ability and good interpersonal skills, they will feel less anxious.”
Dr Croker said the research helped students to understand and manage patients’ anxiety when they visited the dentist.