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- Title
The Effects of Relaxation Training on Dental Anxiety and Pain Perception During Dental Hygiene Treatment.
- Authors
Hunt, Lynne C.; George, Mary; Wilder, Rebecca; Maixner, William; Gaylord, Susan
- Abstract
This study was funded by the ADHA Institute for Oral Health. Purpose: Dental anxiety affects a significant proportion of the population and can lead to avoidance of dental care. Anxiety levels are strongly correlated to pain perception during dental and dental hygiene treatment. Relaxation training has been shown to reduce anxiety and pain perception during dental treatment. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the effects of a short, simple relaxation intervention on dental anxiety and pain perception during a dental prophylaxis. Methods and Materials: A convenience sample of 17 (nine females, eight males) dentally anxious (Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale/DAS), healthy subjects between the ages of 18 and 60 were recruited by advertisement in two local newspapers and flyers distributed throughout the campus of the University of North Carolina. Institutional review board approval was granted in April 2002. Subjects were allocated by block randomization into the experimental group (relaxation training) and the control group (standard treatment). All subjects received quadrant scaling divided among three visits, with the experimental group receiving the relaxation training at the second visit. Blood pressure and reported pain perception was recorded prior to scaling, at midpoint, and after scaling at all three visits. Results: For the control group, no indication of statistically significant differences in blood pressure occurred between visits 1 and 2, 1 and 3, and 2 and 3 (P > .06). For the experimental group, statistically significant differences occurred between visit 1 and 2, 1 and 3 (P < .05), but not 2 and 3. This trend was consistent for all timings of blood pressure recording. Average pain expectation scores (0-100 scale with 100 = most painful) for the control group was 43 (SD = 29), 32 (SD = 18), 21(SD = 19) and 62 (SD = 29), 41(SD = 27), and 33 (SD = 27) for the experimental group. Expected pain repeated measures ANOVA analysis revealed no statistical difference between groups. Average DAS for the control group prior to the first visit was 15.22 (SD = 1.7) and, after the final visit, 11.44 (SD = 2.5); and for the experimental group 14.6 (SD = 2.3) prior to the first visit, and 10.87 (SD = 2.8) after the final visit. Conclusion: Subjective impressions of the principal examiner and the consistency in the direction of change after relaxation training indicated the training did have an effect on blood pressure. Both groups reported reductions in expected pain scores between visits and DAS scores between screening and post-treatment visits.
- Subjects
FEAR of dentists; DENTAL hygiene; DENTAL care; PAIN perception; DENTAL prophylaxis; BLOOD pressure
- Publication
Journal of Dental Hygiene, 2005, Vol 79, Issue 4, p1
- ISSN
1043-254X
- Publication type
Article