Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35918206›Full record

ArticleInternational dental journal2023

Methods Helping Dentists to Detect Dental Fear.

Taina Kankaala, Päivi Rajavaara, Maria Kestilä, Minna Väisänen, Hannu Vähänikkilä, Marja-Liisa Laitala, Vuokko Anttonen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International dental journal, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Taina KankaalaDepartment of Cariology, Endodontology, and Paediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland; Dental Teaching Unit, City of Oulu, Finland. Electronic address: taina.kankaala@oulu.fi.
Päivi RajavaaraDepartment 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.
Maria KestiläDepartment of Cariology, Endodontology, and Paediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland.
Minna VäisänenDepartment of Cariology, Endodontology, and Paediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland.
Hannu VähänikkiläBiostatistician Infrastructure for Population Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
Marja-Liisa LaitalaDepartment of Cariology, Endodontology, and Paediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital.
Vuokko AnttonenDepartment of Cariology, Endodontology, and Paediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland; Medical Research Center, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesDental 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.

methodsA 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.

resultsOf 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.

conclusionsColour-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.

Indexed as

COVID-19Dental AnxietyCross-Sectional StudiesDentistsHumansMiddle AgedPandemicsSurveys and QuestionnairesDental anxietyDental fearDentistEvaluating

Identifiers

PMID35918206
PMCPMC10023586

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.