Applicability of The Resources of Behavioral Medicine in Dental Anxiety

Abstract

Dental anxiety and phobia not rarely cause the patient to delay seeking oral health care if he ever seeks it at all. The present research aimed at providing a literature overview concerning to the applicability of Behavioral Medicine resources in management of dental anxiety and phobia, considering patients who have restrictions on use of drugs. Several risks factors are involved in the rise of such behaviors. These include educational, psychosocial, and economic factors. Comorbidity presentation can also occur, and the level of triggering elements can vary. Although the number of individuals affected by the psychological disorders is significant, the applicability and effectiveness of Behavioral Medicine resources as a means of their management are mostly reported in anecdotal studies. Due to the significant percentage of the society that is affected by dental anxiety and phobia, it produces a negative impact on both individual health and public health system, as shown in our findings. It becomes clear the need for developing new methodological approaches to the training of a more adequate number of professional able to deliver safe and effective Behavioral Medicine resources in medical care to patients with of dental anxiety and phobia, and thus lead to the better outcomes than has been observed.