Management of Dental Anxiety, Nurse Intervention, and Support for Sedation: A Comprehensive Review

Dental anxiety is a frequent disorder in the population, contributing to avoidance of treatment and adverse oral health outcomes. This evidence-based systematic review of interventions for dental anxiety places at its core nursing intervention and sedation support, based on 50 peer-reviewed publications. The review spotlights non-pharmacologic interventions, including behavioral interventions like Tell-Show-Do, distraction, and relaxation, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), effective in attaining reduced phobia and anxiety. Environmental adaptation like aroma therapy and sensory minimization contribute to patient comfort. Pharmacologic interventions like general anesthesia and conscious sedation (e.g., nitrous oxide) are used for more severe conditions, and the role of the dental nurses in providing safety measures by vital sign monitoring and reassuring calm of patients is emphasized. The review also spotlights the key role of the dental nurses in assessment of the patient's anxiety, in the administration of interventions, and sedation support, the emphasis being on the empathic communication style and CBT and sedation training. Liminality yet remains in the pediatric interventions field and technology application like virtual reality. Standardization of the nursing training and cultural issues treating would be warranted to make the care more available. This review points to the interdisciplinary management of dental phobia/anxiety with psychotherapeutic and drug therapy to ensure the best patient outcomes and the alleviation of the phobia/anxiety in the field of dentistry.