Korean J Orthod.  2012 Aug;42(4):201-206. 10.4041/kjod.2012.42.4.201.

Evaluation of anxiety level changes during the first three months of orthodontic treatment

• Yildirim E
• Karacay S

• KMID: 1435414
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4041/kjod.2012.42.4.201

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the changes in dental anxiety, state anxiety, and trait anxiety levels of patients and their parents after 3 months of active orthodontic treatment.
METHODS
We evaluated 120 patients and one parent of each patient. State Anxiety (STAI-S), Trait Anxiety (STAI-T), and Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) were administered before orthodontic treatment (T1) and after 3 months of treatment (T2). Differences in scores between T1 and T2 were compared using paired-sample t-tests and the relationship between the scores of the DAS and the STAI were analyzed using a bivariate two-tailed Pearson correlation test.
RESULTS
Dental anxiety and state anxiety levels decreased among the patients after adjustment to orthodontic treatment (p < 0.001). However, 3 months of treatment was not sufficient to decrease the anxiety levels of parents (p > 0.05). Patient trait anxiety affected patient state anxiety and dental anxiety (p < 0.01). Additionally, a significant correlation was found between patient dental anxiety and parent dental anxiety (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Dental anxiety and state anxiety levels decrease after patients become familiar with their orthodontist and they became accustomed to orthodontic treatment. However, 3 months is not a sufficient length of time to decrease parental anxiety levels.

Keyword

Psychology; Behavioral sciences; Compliance; Orthodontic treatment

MeSH Terms

4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid
Anxiety
Behavioral Sciences
Compliance
Dental Anxiety
Humans
Parents
4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid

Reference

1. Caumo W, Broenstrub JC, Fialho L, Petry SM, Brathwait O, Bandeira D, et al. Risk factors for postoperative anxiety in children. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2000. 44:782–789.

2. Levitt J, Mcgoldrick P, Evans D. The management of severe dental phobia in an adolescent boy: a case report. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2000. 10:348–353.

3. Shoben EJ Jr, Borland L. An empirical study of the etiology of dental fears. J Clin Psychol. 1954. 10:171–174.

4. Weiner AA, Sheehan DV. Etiology of dental anxiety: psychological trauma or CNS chemical imbalance? Gen Dent. 1990. 38:39–43.

5. Cohen SM, Fiske J, Newton JT. The impact of dental anxiety on daily living. Br Dent J. 2000. 189:385–390.

6. Dinjian MD. The psychic factor in dental practice. Dent Surg. 1921. 17:471–475.

7. Vassend O. Anxiety, pain and discomfort associated with dental treatment. Behav Res Ther. 1993. 31:659–666.

8. Locker D, Liddell A, Shapiro D. Diagnostic categories of dental anxiety: a population-based study. Behav Res Ther. 1999. 37:25–37.

9. Stabholz A, Peretz B. Dental anxiety among patients prior to different dental treatments. Int Dent J. 1999. 49:90–94.

10. Wong M, Lytle WR. A comparison of anxiety levels associated with root canal therapy and oral surgery treatment. J Endod. 1991. 17:461–465.

11. Bergdahl M, Bergdahl J. Temperament and character personality dimensions in patients with dental anxiety. Eur J Oral Sci. 2003. 111:93–98.

12. Hakeberg M, Berggren U, Carlsson SG. Prevalence of dental anxiety in an adult population in a major urban area in Sweden. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1992. 20:97–101.

13. Sari Z, Uysal T, Karaman AI, Sargin N, Ure O. Does orthodontic treatment affect patients' and parents' anxiety levels? Eur J Orthod. 2005. 27:155–159.

14. Crowley RE, Klebanoff SG, Singer JL, Napoli PJ. Relationship between personality factors and cooperation in dental treatment. J Dent Res. 1956. 35:157–165.

15. Maj G, Grilli AT, Belletti MF. Psychologic appraisal of children facing orthodontic treatment. Am J Orthod. 1967. 53:849–857.

16. Lewis HG, Brown WA. The attitude of patients to the wearing of a removable orthodontic appliance. Br Dent J. 1973. 134:87–90.

17. Breistein B, Burden DJ. Equity and orthodontic treatment: a study among adolescents in Northern Ireland. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1998. 113:408–413.

18. Wright NS, Fleming PS, Sharma PK, Battagel J. Influence of supplemental written information on adolescent anxiety, motivation and compliance in early orthodontic treatment. Angle Orthod. 2010. 80:329–335.

19. Spielberger CD, Gorsuch RL, Lushene RE. Manual for the state-trait anxiety inventory. 1970. Palo Alto CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

20. Okun A, Stein RE, Bauman LJ, Silver EJ. Content validity of the psychiatric symptom index, ces-depression scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory from the perspective of DSM-IV. Psychol Rep. 1996. 79:1059–1069.

21. Oner N, Le Compte A. Handbook of state and trait anxiety inventory (in Turkish). 1983. Istanbul: Boğaziçi University Press.

22. Ilgüy D, Ilgüy M, Dinçer S, Bayirli G. Reliability and validity of the modified dental anxiety scale in Turkish patients. J Int Med Res. 2005. 33:252–259.

23. Corah NL. Development of a dental anxiety scale. J Dent Res. 1969. 48:596.

24. Sergl HG, Klages U, Zentner A. Pain and discomfort during orthodontic treatment: causative factors and effects on compliance. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1998. 114:684–691.

25. Liddell A, Locker D. Gender and age differences in attitudes to dental pain and dental control. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1997. 25:314–318.

26. Fuentes D, Gorenstein C, Hu LW. Dental anxiety and trait anxiety: an investigation of their relationship. Br Dent J. 2009. 206:E17.

27. Gordis EB, Margolin G, John RS. Parents' hostility in dyadic marital and triadic family settings and children's behavior problems. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2001. 69:727–734.

28. Kashani JH, Suarez L, Jones MR, Reid JC. Perceived family characteristic differences between depressed and anxious children and adolescents. J Affect Disord. 1999. 52:269–274.

29. Heaton LJ, Carlson CR, Smith TA, Baer RA, de Leeuw R. Predicting anxiety during dental treatment using patients' self-reports: less is more. J Am Dent Assoc. 2007. 138:188–195.

30. Dailey YM, Humphris GM, Lennon MA. The use of dental anxiety questionnaires: a survey of a group of UK dental practitioners. Br Dent J. 2001. 190:450–453.

31. Corah NL. Dental anxiety. Assessment, reduction and increasing patient satisfaction. Dent Clin North Am. 1988. 32:779–790.