Abstract
Introduction:
Individuals with dental phobia have poorer oral health. This study sought to evaluate the extent to which service level restrictions are perceived to exist in the provision of dental treatment, through a survey of the frequency of dental treatments believed to be offered for patients with dental phobia by the dentists who provide sedation and dental care services.
Methods:
Questionnaire survey of 70 dental practitioners working within services providing treatment under sedation for individuals with dental anxiety phobia.
Results:
The majority of dental care for dentally phobic patients were simple restorations (amalgam and tooth coloured filling) (64, 91%), scaling (50, 71%) and extractions (65, 94%). More complex dental treatments (such as molar endodontic, crowns and bridges and implant replacement of missing teeth) was either never provided or were referred to a specialist clinic. Participants perceived limitations (for example restrictions to type of treatment episodes and availability/commissioning of services in particular for patients with diagnosis of dental anxiety and phobia alone) for provision of dental care under intravenous sedation.
Conclusion:
Most dentists routinely provided simple restorative and periodontal treatment indicating that gingivitis and periodontal disease is present in this group. The increased rates of extractions in comparison to complex dental treatments (such as root canal therapy, implant, crowns and bridges) might indicates advanced disease (therefore basic treatment), patients’ and dentists’ treatment preference, or service limitations as a result of specific commissioning restrictions. Few participants mentioned dentists’ factors (lack of ability, competence or skill) as barriers for provision of complex care.
Individuals with dental phobia have poorer oral health. This study sought to evaluate the extent to which service level restrictions are perceived to exist in the provision of dental treatment, through a survey of the frequency of dental treatments believed to be offered for patients with dental phobia by the dentists who provide sedation and dental care services.
Methods:
Questionnaire survey of 70 dental practitioners working within services providing treatment under sedation for individuals with dental anxiety phobia.
Results:
The majority of dental care for dentally phobic patients were simple restorations (amalgam and tooth coloured filling) (64, 91%), scaling (50, 71%) and extractions (65, 94%). More complex dental treatments (such as molar endodontic, crowns and bridges and implant replacement of missing teeth) was either never provided or were referred to a specialist clinic. Participants perceived limitations (for example restrictions to type of treatment episodes and availability/commissioning of services in particular for patients with diagnosis of dental anxiety and phobia alone) for provision of dental care under intravenous sedation.
Conclusion:
Most dentists routinely provided simple restorative and periodontal treatment indicating that gingivitis and periodontal disease is present in this group. The increased rates of extractions in comparison to complex dental treatments (such as root canal therapy, implant, crowns and bridges) might indicates advanced disease (therefore basic treatment), patients’ and dentists’ treatment preference, or service limitations as a result of specific commissioning restrictions. Few participants mentioned dentists’ factors (lack of ability, competence or skill) as barriers for provision of complex care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 632-636 |
| Journal | British Dental Journal |
| Early online date | 20 Apr 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 20 Apr 2018 |
Keywords
- conscious sedation
- dental anxiety/phobia
- funding