Abstract
The number of oral symptoms caused by psychosomatic disorder or nervous disorder seems to increase these days. It is necessary for dentists to examine psychologically aspect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation with oral symptoms and dental phobia between psychological factors. The questionnaire was given to two-hundred and sixty-six subjects (male: 108, female: 158). The questionnaire was composed of two psychological tests (MMPI Alexithymia Scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and oral examinations based on dental psychosomatic classification by Uchida and dental phobia examinations by Dental Fear Survey, etc.
The results were as follows:
1. It was suggested that alexithymia has a correlation with pains of temporomandibular joints, lack of adaptability of dentures and disturbance of mouth opening.
2. It was suggested that State-Anxiety has a correlation with dental phobia, pains of temporomandibular joints, sounds of temporomandibular joints, ringing in the ears, hypersensitivity of teeth and bruxism.
3. It was suggested that Trait-Anxiety has a correlation with dental phobia, a sense of incongruity of temporomandibular joints or oral incongruity and lack of adaptability of crowns and bridges.
