Dental phobic patients' view of dental anxiety and experiences in dental care: a qualitative study

Abstract

Dental phobic patients' view of dental anxiety and experiences in dental care: a qualitative study The aim of this study was to explore and describe dental phobic patients' perceptions of their dental fear and experiences in dental care. The study sample consisted of 18 participants (12 women), with a mean age of 39.4 years, selected consecutively from patients applying for treatment at a specialized dental fear clinic in Göteborg, Sweden. Dental fear, assessed by the Dental Anxiety Scale, showed score levels well over established levels for severe dental fear. The method for sampling and analysis was inspired by the constant comparative method for Grounded Theory (GT). The thematized in-depth interviews took place outside the clinic and lasted for 1-1.5 h. All the interviews were conducted by the first author (KHA), audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Three higher-order categories were developed and labelled existential threat, vulnerability and unsupportive dentist. Existential threat was identified as the core category, describing the central meaning of the subjects' experiences in dental care. The core category included two dimensions, labelled threat of violation and threat of loss of autonomy and independence. The core category and the descriptive categories are integrated in a model framing the process of dental fear, as described by the informants. In conclusion, the onset of dental fear was commonly related to individual vulnerability and to traumatic dental care experiences, where perceived negative dentist behaviour played a significant role. The patient was caught in a 'vicious circle' that was difficult to break, and where fear and anxiety were maintained by negative expectations about treatment and about patient's own ability to cope in dental care situations.

A qualitative study of patients’ views of techniques to reduce dental anxiety

“…A topic guide for the focus groups was developed based on a literature review [8,[14][15][16][17] and moderated by a clinical dentist with qualitative research training (MCW). As studies have shown that most dentally anxious people might be more afraid of root canal treatment (RCT) than other dental treatment [7,8] we opted to include questions relating to RCT specifically.…”

Accessing dental anxiety online support groups: An exploratory qualitative study of motives and experiences

“…Moreover, little is known about how (or even if) they feel the group has helped them with their anxiety or phobia or whether there are any disadvantages associated with accessing the group. It has also been noted that research into dental anxiety and phobia draws predominantly upon quantitative instruments, with a paucity of research employing in-depth qualitative methodologies, detailing the patient's own experience and perceptions of their dental anxiety or phobia 11,12 . Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to explore, using a qualitative methodology, the context through which dentally anxious individuals choose to access an online support group and their online experiences and to explore the extent to which online communication within the support group context is personal and meaningful to participants.…”

Tetany During Intravenous Conscious Sedation in Dentistry Resulting From Hyperventilation-Induced Hypocapnia

“…8 Although many people associate a visit to the dentist with the onset of anxiety, a small minority suffer from dental phobia, which may present with symptoms such as hyperventilation. However, hyperventilation is not a regular occurrence under sedation.…”