ABSTRACT
Behavioral methods of patient stress reduction during amalgam restorations were evaluated. Eighty adult patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups of 20 each: a control group, a relaxation group, a perceived control group, and an active distraction group. Both relaxation and distraction were found to be effective in reducing patient discomfort.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/prevention & control , Dental Care , Stress, Psychological/prevention & control , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anxiety/physiopathology , Attention , Dentist-Patient Relations , Female , Galvanic Skin Response/physiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Relaxation Therapy , Stress, Psychological/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Relaxation and distraction techniques designed to reduce stress during operative dental procedures were evaluated with a number of different measures. The results indicate that both techniques can be effective in alleviating anxiety and reducing stress. Some findings suggested that relaxation was more effective with women than with men whereas distraction may be more effective with men than with women. Further research is needed to refine these techniques that should be readily adaptable to dental practice.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/prevention & control , Dental Care , Relaxation Therapy , Stress, Psychological/prevention & control , Adult , Attention , Dental Amalgam , Dental Cavity Preparation , Dental Restoration, Permanent , Dentist-Patient Relations , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Galvanic Skin Response , Humans , Male , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
A number of different sets of data concerning the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale were evaluated. The data indicate that the scale is a reliable, valid, and useful measure of dental anxiety. It can be successfully used in the dental office or in research projects.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/diagnosis , Dental Care/psychology , Personality Inventory , Anxiety/etiology , Attitude , Dental Clinics , Desensitization, Psychologic , Emergency Service, Hospital , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Fear , Female , Humans , Male , Outpatient Clinics, Hospital , Private Practice , Sex Factors , Stress, Physiological/etiology , Students , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A signaling device was given to adult patients to reduce stress in the dental chair. Galvanic skin response during the dental procedures indicated that patients with the signaling device showed more arousal during high stress conditions when compared with a control group. A personality variable was also investigated.
