[Different information patterns and their influence on patient anxiety prior to dental local anesthesia]

Abstract

In 240 patients the correlation between different patterns of pretreatment verbal information on local anesthesia and perioperative patient anxiety was studied. Emphasis has been placed on the importance of "local anesthesia" itself as an anxiety factor as compared with other dental treatment measures and on legal aspects. The 240 patients were randomized into 3 groups of 80 patients each receiving minimum, basic, or extended information on local anesthesia. Anxiety was measured using the STAI test before and after the delivery of information, after local anesthesia, and finally after dental treatment. The significance of different anxiety factors was assessed with a questionnaire. Local anesthesia, pain sensation, and drilling were found to be the main anxiety factors. Higher STAI scores were observed in women and prior to surgical treatment, and the scores increased after minimum and extended information. Anxiety decreased after basic information, and significantly so in patients with high preoperative STAI scores. Disregarding the forensic aspects, our results suggest that basic information prior to dental treatment could be a useful method for reducing anxiety and improving the patients' confidence in the dentist or surgeon.