Dental anxiety, fear, and root canal treatment monitoring of heart rate, and oxygen saturation in patients treated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: An observational clinical study.

Olivieri, Juan Gonzalo; de España, Carlota; Encinas, Marc; Ruiz, Xavier-Fructuós; Miró, Queralt; Ortega-Martinez, Jordi; Durán-Sindreu, Fernando

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate anxiety in patients and to monitor their heart rate (HR) and blood oxygenation (SpO(2)) before, during, and after a root canal treatment (RCT) during the state of alarm in two different periods of strict and partial confinement. METHODS: The patients that required a primary RCT were selected. Demographic, pre-, and postoperative variables were registered, including perceived dental anxiety, fear, HR, and SpO(2). Spearman correlation, X(2), Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for frequency distribution and variable interaction, and Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests to compare HR and SpO(2) between groups and different treatment points. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients were included. Median MDAS was 8 [6, 9.25] and 6 [5,5; 8] in patients treated during the strict and partial confinement periods. Fear median score was 2 [0; 5] and 3 [1; 5] respectively. Having a previous dental bad experience resulted in higher dental anxiety and fear (p < 0.05). HR was increased in patients with higher MDAS and fear scores and in those treated during the strict confinement (p < 0.05). In T6 and T7, HR decreased compared to the other evaluated treatment time points (p < 0.05). No clinical differences were found regarding SpO(2). CONCLUSIONS: Self-perception on dental anxiety and fear was similar to other studies in a non-pandemic context. Patients with higher levels of dental anxiety and those treated in the strict confinement period presented an elevated HR. However, it can be stated that RCT performed by endodontists does not result in a significant alteration in patients.