Effect of Verbal and Visual Information on the Level of Anxiety among Dental Implant Patients

Aim: To compare the effect of visual information and verbal communication on the level of anxiety among patients undergoing dental implant (DI) therapy. Materials and methods:A total of 270 patients who were undergoing DI treatment were recruited for the study.An equal number of patients (n = 90) were randomly allocated into three study groups which were formed on the basis of the mode of delivery.Subjects in group I received verbal information, whereas patients in group II were shown a video of surgery on manikins.Group III subjects were made to watch a video of surgery on a real patient.Before the surgery, anxiety levels were measured for all patients using the modified Corah dental anxiety scale (MDAS).Results: Questionnaires were filled by all patients and were later analyzed.The values of Cronbach's α and the behavioral involvement subscale were 0.89 and 0.91, indicating hemogeneous sample.Patients of group I showed significantly reduced anxiety levels (p < 0.01) followed by groups II and III. Conclusion: Verbal information generated less anxiety than visual information on patients undergoing DI therapy.Clinical significance: To assess the best method of information delivery to dental implant patients in which their anxiety will be minimal.