Percorrer por autor "Chau, Matthieu-Saveth Quentin"
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- Effectiveness of non-pharmacological approaches in managing dental anxiety: an integrative reviewPublication . Chau, Matthieu-Saveth Quentin; Barata, Nuno; Alves, Ana IsabelDental anxiety affects both access to and continuity of oral healthcare, leading to clinical, social, and psychological consequences. While traditional pharmacological approaches such as general anesthesia or sedation offer temporary relief, they do not address the underlying causes, which are often emotional or cognitive in nature. To overcome these limitations, the primary objective of this integrative review is to explore and analyze the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in adult patients. Thirteen articles were selected based on a rigorous methodology grounded in the PIO framework and a targeted search on PubMed. Five categories of non-pharmacological approaches were examined in depth: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), hypnosis, virtual reality (VR), relaxation and breathing techniques, and therapeutic communication. The findings highlight that CBT provides strong evidence base and demonstrates lasting effectiveness in reducing dental anxiety. Hypnosis is particularly effective for highly anxious patients who also exhibit high suggestibility, while VR functions as a short-term sensory distraction tool. Relaxation techniques, which are simple and easily implemented, are well accepted by patients in routine care. Lastly, therapeutic communication emerges as a transversal foundation that enhances the effectiveness of all other non-pharmacological methods. Despite methodological heterogeneity and the lack of standardized protocols, this review underscores the need for a more personalized, multimodal approach centered on the quality of the practitioner-patient relationship. These methods also highlight existing gaps in dental education and call for improvements in patient care to achieve better clinical outcomes.