Most studies of the symptomatology of dental treatment
anxiety have focused on the contributions of pain or
unpleasant experiences [1-6], traumatic experiences [3-5]
and co-morbidity with other anxiety and mood complexes
[2,7-9]. Although some have also reported feelings
of lack of control, powerlessness and embarrassment in
dental treatment situations as contributing factors [4,7-
10], actual mechanisms and other details of these psychosocial
factors have not been thoroughly described.