Treating dental anxiety for patients with a trauma history or severe dental anxiety: A scoping review

Abstract

Dental anxiety can impact the ability of dental services to cater to specific patient groups. The aim of this review was to map existing psychological interventions used to treat dental anxiety for patients with a history of torture, abuse, or dental anxiety/phobia. The review was prospectively registered (Open Science Framework). Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodology, six databases (MEDLINE ALL [Ovid], Embase [Ovid], PsycInfo [Ovid], Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) [EBSCO]) were systematically searched. A total of 1743 studies from 1984 to 2024 were retrieved and screened, resulting in 39 articles meeting the predefined inclusion criteria. This review reveals a notable gap: Minimal research exists on psychological interventions treating dental anxiety for patients with a history of torture or abuse. In contrast, studies on patients with dental anxiety or phobia highlight a range of effective treatments demonstrating positive outcomes. However, many of these studies lacked detailed reporting on patient comorbidities and dropout rates, limiting a comprehensive understanding of their findings. Therefore, further research is needed to explore psychological interventions for survivors of torture and abuse.