Effect of anxiety on the experience of pain in implant insertion

Abstract

Pain is a complex experience affected by such factors as stress, anxiety and cognitions. The purpose of this study was to examine the inter-relationship between anxiety and acute pain perception under an oral surgery procedure of implant insertion. The study population consisted of 60 dental patients (58% female, mean age 42 year), who were scheduled for implant insertion in a private clinic specializing in oral surgery. Patients were evaluated on three consecutive occasions: immediately preoperatively (T1), immediately post-operatively (T2), and at 4 weeks post-operative follow-up (T3). Patients were requested to complete questionnaires concerning their anxiety on each occasion and to indicate their subjective evaluations concerning pain (on visual analogue scales). Patient anxiety and pain evaluation were highest immediately before the surgical procedure (T1) with a significant decrease immediately afterwards (T2). The best predictor of the patient's pain evaluation at each time point was their state of anxiety at that time (T1: mean square = 7844.36, F = 16.26, P < 0.001; T2: mean square = 7652.74, F = 15.86, P < 0.001; T3: mean square = 5433.04, F = 8.99, P < 0.005). Pain experienced by patients in oral surgery is best predicted by their anxiety at each time point. Proper understanding of the variables that affect pain is important as they may produce emotional responses that could influence compliance.