Sociodemographic, clinical and psychological predictors of subjective avoidance in Endodontic Therapy

Aim: Despite improvements in dentistry, patient’s avoidance rates to dental treatments remain high. This study aimed to assess sociodemographic, clinical and psychological predictors of subjective avoidance in endodontic therapy. 

Methodology: One hundred patients diagnosed with any type of pulp or periapical pathology that required non-surgical endodontic therapy were treated in two different clinical settings. Data were collected at two time points: a) at baseline in the waiting room before starting endodontic therapy; b) from the beginning endodontic therapy until the treated tooth regained complete functionality (a range of one to three months).

Results: There was a significant positive association between subjective avoidance and behavioral avoidance (t=2.248, p=.027). Women obtained significantly (t=-2.039, p=.044) higher scores in subjective avoidance (mean=5.73, SD=3.26) than men (mean=4.43, SD=3.04). Patients who have been taking medication presented significantly (t=-2.071, p=.043) higher avoidance (mean=6.25; SD=2.70) than patients who reported not needing medication (mean=4.91, SD=3.31). Bivariate analyses suggest that subjective avoidance maintained strong positive correlations with trait anxiety (p=.039), state anxiety (p=.031), dental anxiety (p<.001), dental phobia (p=.003) and phobic stimuli in dental context (p<.001).

Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present study, it can be concluded that the only predictor variable for avoidance is dental anxiety (p<.001).