Patient anxiety towards dental treatment: A scoping review

Abstract

Objectives: Anxiety related to dental treatment is a common problem, so it is essential to identify its potential protective and enhancing factors and consequences. Anxiety is an emotion with negative impacts that may hinder the ability to make decisions and perform daily tasks. The objective is to map the scientific literature on anxiety about dental treatment in adults. Methods: This study used a scoping review registered in the Open Science Framework. The article writing was structured according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Results: 465 articles were identified, of which 19 were included for analysis. In these, anxiety-enhancing factors, such as the use of turbinates on teeth and previous negative experiences, anxiety-protecting factors, such as regular visits to the dentist and the dentist being calm, showing empathy, and providing emotional support, and actual and/or potential consequences of anxiety, such as postponing or rescheduling appointments and poor oral health, were identified. Conclusions: The results of this study may contribute to assisting dentists in their clinical practice by anticipating anxiety situations, which may allow them to adopt preventive strategies by introducing previous assessment methodologies.