Highly anxious dental patients report more pain during dental injections.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study, the relationship between anxiety and pain was investigated using a clinically relevant sample and stimulus.


METHODS
A sample of highly anxious dental patients (n = 23) and a sample of 'normal' subjects (n = 57) were compared with respect to the duration and intensity of pain while receiving a dental anaesthetic injection.


RESULTS
As expected, highly anxious dental patients indicate more pain, which is of longer duration, than normal patients. Most predictive for the amount of pain felt was the pain felt during a previous injection.


CONCLUSIONS
Dentists should be aware that anxious dental patients with a negative experience regarding dental injections may feel elevated levels of pain which most likely leads to negative expectations for the future.
van Wijk
A J
AJ
Department of Social Dentistry and Behavioural Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Universiteit van Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit, Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.vwijk@acta.nl
Makkes
P C
PC
D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D009061:Mouth Mucosa; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010159:Palate; D013997:Time Factors
D000779:Anesthetics, Local