PREDICTORS OF DENTAL ANXIETY AND EFFECTS OF TREATMENT WITH NITROUS-OXIDE AND MIDAZOLAM IN DENTALLY PHOBIC PATIENTS

The role of general anxiety (measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depr ession Scale (HADS), or the Spielberger Trait Anxiety scale, (STAI-T) on dental anxiety (measured by the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale, the Ken t Phobia Scale and by analogue ratings concerning specific procedures) of dentally phobic patients was examined using multiple regression an alysis. HADS anxiety and STAI-T scores were both significant predictor s of Corah scores; whereas HADS depression and STAI-T predicted Kent s cores, which measure how concerns about dentistry affect emotional and social well-being. Fear of coming for an appointment significantly co ntributed to both scores and was itself predicted by anxiety about hav ing an instrument in the mouth. The effects of sedation with nitrous o xide or midazolam on the change in dental anxiety after two treatment sessions in patients with high or low HADS anxiety were compared. Both drugs resulted in significant and equal reductions in scores on the C orah scale and anxieties about an instrument in the mouth, drilling an d filling, in both high and low anxiety groups. None of the groups sho wed a significant reduction in scores on the Kent scale or in fear of coming for an appointment.