Highly anxious dental patients report more pain during dental injections

Abstract

Objectives: 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.

Conclusion: 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.