Adolescent Dental Fear and Anxiety: Background, Assessment, and Nonpharmacologic Behavior Guidance

Janice A Townsend; Cameron L Randall

doi:10.1016/j.cden.2021.07.002

Adolescent Dental Fear and Anxiety: Background, Assessment, and Nonpharmacologic Behavior Guidance

Dent Clin North Am. 2021 Oct;65(4):731-751. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2021.07.002. Epub 2021 Aug 2.

Authors

Janice A Townsend¹, Cameron L Randall²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dentistry, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, LA Suite 5A, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; Division of Pediatric Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address: Janice.Townsend@nationwidechildrens.org.
² Department of Oral Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Dentistry, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 357475, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

PMID: 34503664
DOI: 10.1016/j.cden.2021.07.002

Abstract

Adolescence, the period from 11 to 21 years of age, bridges the chasm between childhood and adulthood. Adolescence can be challenging as bodies, cognition, and personality go through major transformations, but it is also a time of great joy as confident adults with a clear identity develop. Dentists need to be knowledgeable about the developmental characteristics of this group because some of the cognitive and emotional changes make adolescents vulnerable to new fears. Dentists must tailor behavior guidance to this developing psyche in a way that respects independence and promotes confidence to foster lifelong positive views of dentistry.

Keywords: Adolescents; Behavior guidance; COVID-19; Dental anxiety; Dental fear; Special health care needs.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Child
Dental Anxiety*
Humans