Chauhan Sia, Breakfield Dustin J, Amornnimit Danaya, Luceford Mason, Spearman Brenda, Kamimura Akiko
Health Society and Policy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Business Administration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
J Patient Exp. 2024 Dec 12;11:23743735241305334. doi: 10.1177/23743735241305334. eCollection 2024.
Dental anxiety, the fear related to dental services, can be presented in diverse ways, hindering those in need of dental treatment. This anxiety often results in higher levels of untreated dental issues, affecting oral health-related quality of life primarily due to insufficient dental care or dental care avoidance. Identifying its causes is crucial for effective support and preventative care. This study explores dental care perceptions and experiences among patients at free clinics, offering valuable insights to improve dental support and care for uninsured and underserved individuals. Two hundred ninety-three immigrant patients, mainly Spanish speakers, participated from October 2023 to January 2024. Findings reveal that 14% experienced dental phobia, primarily linked to local anesthetic shots. The majority of patients reported unmet dental needs, highlighting dental care disparities. Understanding how dental phobia contributes to dental care needs is vital to understand, in order to improve oral health outcomes. Future research should address additional barriers like language, finances, and awareness of services. Additionally, exploring other anxiety factors beyond pain, noise, discomfort, and aesthetics is essential.
牙科焦虑，即与牙科服务相关的恐惧，可能以多种方式表现出来，阻碍需要牙科治疗的人。这种焦虑往往导致更高水平的未治疗牙科问题，主要由于牙科护理不足或避免牙科护理而影响与口腔健康相关的生活质量。识别其原因对于有效的支持和预防性护理至关重要。本研究探讨了免费诊所患者对牙科护理的看法和经历，为改善对无保险和服务不足人群的牙科支持和护理提供了有价值的见解。2023年10月至2024年1月，293名移民患者参与了研究，主要讲西班牙语。研究结果显示，14%的患者经历过牙科恐惧症，主要与局部麻醉注射有关。大多数患者报告有未满足的牙科需求，突出了牙科护理的差异。了解牙科恐惧症如何导致牙科护理需求对于改善口腔健康结果至关重要。未来的研究应解决语言、财务和服务意识等其他障碍。此外，探索疼痛、噪音、不适和美观之外的其他焦虑因素也至关重要。
