[Anxiety in the dental office: theoretical aspects and treatment strategies].
Although mild tension and fear when visiting the dentist are considered normal, some patients experience extreme anxiety for dental treatment, which interferes with treatment and oral health, and causes significant distress. The present article reviews the literature on the definition and occurrence of dental fear. Causal and maintenance factors of dental fear are identified and a conceptual model of these factors is presented. From this model several interventions are presented that can be used to treat moderately anxious patients and pathological dental fear. The effects of these treatments are discussed.
Koster
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Vakgroep Experimenteel-Klinische en Gezondheidspsychologie, Faculteit Psychologische en Pedagogische Wetenschappen Universiteit Gent, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000 Gent. ernst.koster@rug.ac.be
Crombez
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G
De Vlieger
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P
D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D006801:Humans