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Patients With Dental Phobias Only Get Basic Care

Patients With Dental Phobias Only Get Basic Care
from Dentistry Today

Patients who suffer from dental phobias, who constitute more than 11% of the population, experience poorer health and may only receive basic dental care, according to researchers at the King’s College London Dental Institute. Previous research has associated greater dental anxiety with more decayed or missing teeth and fewer filled teeth.

Patients who are afraid of visiting the dentist usually only get simple treatment such as amalgam and tooth colored fillings, scaling, and extractions. More complex treatment such as molar endodontics, crowns and bridges, and dental implants are either never provided or referred to a specialist clinic, the researchers report.

When these patients do visit the dentist, the researchers report, they are more likely to present with advanced disease. This factor and certain healthcare policies and lack of funding might limit dental treatment options for these patients. There also is inconsistent provision of conscious sedation services for people with dental phobia, which can lead to limited access and difficulty in addressing these patients’ needs as well.

Read full article on Dentistry Today.