Comparison of Aversion to Visual Dental Stimuli Between Patients and Dentists: A Preliminary Study

Satoshi Tanaka; Hiroyuki Karibe; Yuichi Kato; Ayuko Okamoto; Michihiko Koeda; Tomoko Hama

doi:10.2147/PPA.S447526

Comparison of Aversion to Visual Dental Stimuli Between Patients and Dentists: A Preliminary Study

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2024 Mar 8:18:623-633. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S447526. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Satoshi Tanaka¹, Hiroyuki Karibe¹, Yuichi Kato¹, Ayuko Okamoto¹, Michihiko Koeda², Tomoko Hama³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, The Nippon Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
² Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ehime Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ehime, Japan.

Abstract

Purpose: Fearful dental patients often cite various dental instruments or procedures as triggers for their dental fear. Thus, visual dental stimuli provoke anxiety. This preliminary study aimed to assess the level of aversion to visual stimuli in dental patients and compare it with that in dentists.

Patients and methods: A total of 43 dental patients (25 women, 18 men; average age, 29.9 ± 13.3 years; patient group) and 13 dentists (4 women, 9 men; average age, 28.2 ± 2.0 years; dentist group) were included. All participants had previously undergone dental treatment. The dental fear level was assessed using the self-reported Dental Fear Survey (DFS). Thirty-two images associated with dental treatment were prepared and classified into three categories: dental instruments, dental procedures, and the dental environment. All participants rated their level of disgust toward each image on a visual analog scale with scores ranging from 0 to 100.

Results: In the patient group, the disgust ratings for tooth extraction, dental drilling, and local anesthesia were >60, which were significantly different from those in the dentist group (Mann-Whitney U-test, p<0.001, p=0.001, and p=0.001, respectively). The ranking order of the disgust ratings for the 32 images showed significant correlation between the patient and dentist groups (Spearman correlation coefficient, r=0.80, p<0.001). In the patient group, the disgust ratings for dental impressions and the interdental brush, dental light, and dental chair were significantly correlated with DFS scores (r=0.61, p<0.001; r=0.47, p=0.001; r=0.41, p=0.006; and r=0.40, p=0.008, respectively).

Conclusion: This study revealed that patients have more negative feelings toward invasive procedures than dentists. However, a significant correlation was identified between the ranking of aversion-provoking dental stimuli by patients and dentists. Furthermore, the level of aversion to several dental-related items that do not cause pain was correlated with the dental fear level.

Keywords: dental anxiety; dental impression; pain perception; visual analog scale; visual stimuli.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Nippon Dental University, School of Life Dentistry in Tokyo, Japan, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Grant Number 22K10299).