DENTISTRY AND PSYCHOLOGY - PROCEDURES FOR DIMINISHING ANXIETY IN PATIENTS WHO UNDERTAKE DENTAL SURGERY

A program of psychological preparation for dental surgery was applied to an experimental group formed by 5 students from the University of A ntioquia (Medellin, Colombia). A control group was composed by 4 stude nts, comparable in all aspects, also from the Dental Service of the Un iversity. Participants were 18-30 years old. The dependent variables w ere anxiety (measured by Spielberger'STAI), time required for the surg ery, amount of anesthetics required, and time for healing of the wound . Statistically significant differences were found between the two gro ups: less time required for surgery, amount of anesthetics required, a nd less time for healing in the experimental group in comparison with the control group. Concerning anxiety, experimental participats dimini shed it but the difference with the control participants was not stati stically significant. Results are analyzed with respect to the role of psychological preparation for dental surgery.