Department of Cariology, Endodontology, and Paediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland; Dental Teaching Unit, City of Oulu, Finland.
Department of Cariology, Endodontology, and Paediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland; Dental Teaching Unit, City of Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital.
Int Dent J. 2023 Apr;73(2):228-234. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2022.06.018. Epub 2022 Jul 30.
Dental fear is common and yet often remains unrecognised. COVID-19 has challenged health care since 2020. This study aimed to evaluate patients' self-reported dental fear and detection of dental fear by the dentists. Another aim was to validate a colour code instrument for estimating dental fear. The influence of COVID-19 on fear and attendance was assessed.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the primary urgent dental care of Oulu, Finland, in spring 2020 and 2021 after the first (T1) and third waves (T2) of the pandemic. Data were obtained for analyses using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), Facial Image Scale (FIS), and a new "traffic light" colour code for dental fear (CCF). The influence of COVID-19 on dental fear and attendance was assessed with structured and open-ended questions. The questionnaires were completed by 273 anonymous participants.
Of the participants, 167 (61.2%) visited dental care during T1 and 106 (38.8%) during T2. Their mean age was 45.1 years. An MDAS score of 19 or above, indicating severe fear, was reported by 10.6% of the participants. Of those with severe dental fear, 87% chose the red colour in the CCF "traffic light" system. The association between dentists' and participants' estimation of dental fear was weak (P < .001) and agreement with the red code was nonexistent (Cohen's kappa value = -0.035). MDAS scores of the younger participants were higher than those of the older ones after the first wave (T1) (P = .021). COVID-19 had the strongest influence on dental attendance and dental fear of those having the most severe self-reported dental fear as measured by the MDAS.
Colour-coded traffic lights seem valid for screening severe dental fear and are easy and quick to use. They could be useful tools especially since recognising dental fear seems difficult for dentists. The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated dental care for the most fearful individuals.
牙齿恐惧很常见，但往往未被识别。自 2020 年以来，COVID-19 一直对医疗保健构成挑战。本研究旨在评估患者自我报告的牙齿恐惧和牙医对牙齿恐惧的检测。另一个目的是验证一种用于估计牙齿恐惧的颜色编码工具。评估了 COVID-19 对恐惧和就诊的影响。
2020 年和 2021 年，在 COVID-19 大流行的第一波（T1）和第三波（T2）之后，在芬兰奥卢的初级紧急牙科护理中进行了横断面调查。使用改良牙科焦虑量表（MDAS）、面部图像量表（FIS）和新的牙齿恐惧“红绿灯”颜色编码（CCF）分析数据。使用结构化和开放式问题评估 COVID-19 对牙齿恐惧和就诊的影响。273 名匿名参与者完成了问卷。
在参与者中，167 人（61.2%）在 T1 期间就诊，106 人（38.8%）在 T2 期间就诊。他们的平均年龄为 45.1 岁。10.6%的参与者报告 MDAS 评分在 19 分或以上，表明存在严重恐惧。在有严重牙齿恐惧的人中，87%的人在 CCF“红绿灯”系统中选择红色。牙医和参与者对牙齿恐惧的估计之间的相关性较弱（P<0.001），与红色代码的一致性不存在（Cohen 的 kappa 值= -0.035）。第一次波（T1）后，年轻参与者的 MDAS 评分高于年长参与者（P=0.021）。COVID-19 对 MDAS 测量自我报告牙齿恐惧最严重的患者的就诊和牙齿恐惧影响最大。
彩色编码的交通灯似乎可用于筛查严重的牙齿恐惧，并且易于使用且快速。由于牙医似乎难以识别牙齿恐惧，因此它们可能是有用的工具。COVID-19 大流行使最恐惧的个体的牙科护理变得复杂。
