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BMC Oral Health
Published in: BMC Oral Health 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Root Canal Debridement | Research

Magnification of fear and intention of avoidance in non-experienced versus experienced dental treatment in adults

Authors: Chia-Shu Lin, Chen-Yi Lee, Li-Ling Chen, Long-Ting Wu, Shue-Fen Yang, Tze-Fang Wang

Published in: BMC Oral Health | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Dental fear is associated with the experience of prior dental treatment and avoidance of dental visits. It remains unclear if individuals show an intention of avoidance (IA) towards treatments that they have not received (i.e., non-experienced dental treatment). The study aims to investigated (a) if individuals showed an increased fear and IA to non-experienced, compared to experienced dental treatment, and (b) if fear and IA to non-experienced treatment is associated with dental anxiety.

Methods

Fear/IA of 12 common conditions of dental treatment of 402 adults were investigated. If subjects have experienced the condition, fear and IA were assessed based on subjects’ prior experience (i.e., ExpFear/ExpIA). If they have not experienced the condition, fear and IA were assessed based on their anticipation (i.e., NExpFear/NExpIA). Trait dental anxiety was assessed using the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C+).

Results

(A) NExpFear and NExpIA were significantly higher than ExpFear and ExpIA, respectively. (B) The IDAF-4C+ scores are positively correlated with NExpFear/NExpIA and negatively correlated with the magnification of fear (i.e., the discrepancy in the fear/IA of non-experienced vs. experienced conditions). (C) The condition ‘extraction of a wisdom tooth’ and ‘root canal treatment’ showed the highest ratings on NExpFear.

Conclusions

Individuals may develop a high degree of fear and IA of the treatment they have not received. Trait dental anxiety plays a key role in the fear of non-experienced treatment.
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Metadata
Title
Magnification of fear and intention of avoidance in non-experienced versus experienced dental treatment in adults
Authors
Chia-Shu Lin
Chen-Yi Lee
Li-Ling Chen
Long-Ting Wu
Shue-Fen Yang
Tze-Fang Wang
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Oral Health / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6831
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-021-01682-1

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