title: [Treatment of dental phobia and quality of life].
abstract: Phobia for dental treatment often has a considerable influence on a person's perceived quality of life. In this research project, the relationship and interactions between dental anxiety, oral health and quality of life were studied. Scores on the basis of several parameters of these factors were analyzed prior to and following dental treatment. It appeared that quality of life was associated with both dental anxiety and oral health. When improvement in quality of life was investigated, it appeared that this was only statistically correlated with a reduction in dental anxiety. These findings suggest that treatment of dental phobia patients should focus not only on making patients treatable (pharmacologically), but also on reducing anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Vakgroep Sociale Tandheelkunde en Voorlichtingskunde van het Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam. e.vermaire@acta.nl
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Vermaire
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult