The anxiety in patients undergoing third molar extraction

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to understand anxiety in patients undergoing third molar extraction and care patients of third molar extraction. The subjects in the study were Sixty-three patients who visited the department of dentistry at Pusan Paik Hospital from May 2006 to September 2006 and who underwent third molar extraction. Patients' anxiety(state anxiety and trait anxiety) to use Spielberger's state-trait anxiety inventory(STAI) were measured. They were asked to fill out STAI question paper immediately before third molar extraction(pre-extraction) and on the day after the extraction(post-extraction). And visual analog scale(VAS) to measure patient's postoperative pain on the day after extraction(postextraction day) was used. Then Differences in anxiety before and after extraction, between men and women, between the first and second extraction, with impacted versus nonimpacted third molar extraction, between extraction time and anxiety, and between postoperative pain and anxiety were evaluated. The anxiety status of patients undergoing third molar extraction could be quantitatively evaluated using the STAI-KYZ. There were significant difference before and after third molar extraction. Especially women and patients of more severe postoperative pain was more anxious. We need to alleviate patient's anxiety(especially women) and to control postoperative pain throughout the tooth removal process.