Patients' multifaceted views of dental fear in a diagnostic interview

Abstract

Objectives The aim was to examine how patients describe and perceive their dental fear (DF) in diagnostic interviews.

Material and Methods The sample consisted of dentally anxious patients according to the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), who had problems coping with conventional dental treatment. The voluntary participants (n = 7, aged 31–62 years) attended a diagnostic interview aiming to map their DF before dental treatment. The data were analysed by theory-driven qualitative content analysis. The themes consisted of the four components of DF: emotional, behavioural, cognitional, and physiological, derived from the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear.

Results Within these four themes, treated as the main categories, 27 additional categories related to the patients’ interpretations of DF were identified in three contexts: before, during and after dental treatment. 10 categories depicted difficult, uncontrollable, or ambivalent emotions; nine depicted behavioural patterns, strategies, or means; five depicted disturbing, strong, or long-lasting physiological reactions, including panic and anxiety symptoms. The remaining three categories related to cognitive components.

Conclusions The results indicate that dental care professionals may gain comprehensive information about their patients’ DF by means of four component-based diagnostic interviews. This helps them to better identify and encounter patients in need of fear-sensitive dental care.