Postoperative recovery after removal of a lower third molar: role of trait and dental anxiety.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate trait and dental anxiety influence on postoperative recovery after lower third molar surgery and to determine the effect of anxiety on surgery duration.


METHODS
A prospective study was performed of 145 patients who underwent lower third molar extractions. Dental anxiety was evaluated using the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), Kleinknecht Dental Fear Survey (DFS), and the state anxiety scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Trait anxiety was measured with the trait anxiety scale of the STAI. Surgery duration, postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus were also recorded.


RESULTS
Patients with high trait anxiety showed more pain according to all of the postoperative measures and to a significant degree in the last 2 postoperative days evaluated. Patients with high dental anxiety had greater trismus according to the DAS and to the dental stimuli dimension of the DFS. The average surgery time was higher in patients with high anxiety, for all of the measures used, although this difference was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with high trait or dental anxiety may tend to require longer surgery times and have poorer postoperative recovery.
Lago-Méndez
Lucía
L
Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine Unit, Dental School, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Diniz-Freitas
Márcio
M
Senra-Rivera
Carmen
C
Seoane-Pesqueira
Gloria
G
Gándara-Rey
José Manuel
JM
García-García
Abel
A
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013694:Temperament; D013997:Time Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D014313:Trismus / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult