# Thermography as a Method to Detect Dental Anxiety in Oral Surgery
## 4 Discussion
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**ROI**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Model**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Unstandardized Coefficients**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Standardized**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**\(t\)**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Sig.**} \\  & & **B** & **Standard Error** & & & \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{zygoma} & (Constant) & \(-0.005\) & \(0.608\) & - & \(-0.008\) & \(0.994\) \\  & MDAS & \(-0.092\) & \(0.058\) & \(-0.819\) & \(-1.576\) & \(0.121\) \\  & Age & \(-0.009\) & \(0.006\) & \(-0.190\) & \(-1.479\) & \(0.145\) \\  & Gender & \(0.269\) & \(0.207\) & \(0.169\) & \(1.301\) & \(0.199\) \\  & MDAS\_LVL & \(0.754\) & \(0.483\) & \(0.824\) & \(1.560\) & \(0.125\) \\  & MDAS\_YN & \(0.192\) & \(0.514\) & \(0.111\) & \(0.374\) & \(0.710\) \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{forehead} & (Constant) & \(-0.005\) & \(0.608\) & - & \(-0.008\) & \(0.994\) \\  & MDAS & \(-0.092\) & \(0.058\) & \(-0.819\) & \(-1.576\) & \(0.121\) \\  & Age & \(-0.009\) & \(0.006\) & \(-0.190\) & \(-1.479\) & \(0.145\) \\  & Gender & \(0.269\) & \(0.207\) & \(0.169\) & \(1.301\) & \(0.199\) \\  & MDAS\_LVL & \(0.754\) & \(0.483\) & \(0.824\) & \(1.560\) & \(0.125\) \\  & MDAS\_YN & \(0.192\) & \(0.514\) & \(0.111\) & \(0.374\) & \(0.710\) \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{ chin} & (Constant) & \(-0.005\) & \(0.608\) & - & \(-0.008\) & \(0.994\) \\  & MDAS & \(-0.092\) & \(0.058\) & \(-0.819\) & \(-1.576\) & \(0.121\) \\ \cline{1-1}  & Age & \(-0.009\) & \(0.006\) & \(-0.190\) & \(-1.479\) & \(0.145\) \\ \cline{1-1}  & Gender & \(0.269\) & \(0.207\) & \(0.169\) & \(1.301\) & \(0.199\) \\ \cline{1-1}  & MDAS\_LVL & \(0.754\) & \(0.483\) & \(0.824\) & \(1.560\) & \(0.125\) \\ \cline{1-1}  & MDAS\_YN & \(0.192\) & \(0.514\) & \(0.111\) & \(0.374\) & \(0.710\) \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: \(Cont.\)Variations in the body temperature are a natural indicator of illness. Abnormalities such as malignancies, inflammation and infection cause localized increases in temperature which show as hot spots or as asymmetrical patterns in an infrared thermogram. Accordingly, this technique has been successfully used in the diagnosis of breast cancer, diabetes neuropathy and peripheral vascular disorders and in the detection of problems associated with gynaecology, kidney transplantation, dermatology, cardiology, neonatal physiology and fever screening [34]. Since 1867, when scientists first noticed that emotional excitement, such as a fit of anger, caused a general rise of temperature, thermography has been used to study psychological processes [35]. Initial thermographic research concentrated on the mental workload. [PERSON] et al. conducted experiments in which the temperature of the skin was shown to have great potential as a physiological measure, because, when using a thermographic camera, no physical contact with the subject is needed [36]. In all patients, especially those with severe anxiety, the fight-or-flight response can induce medical emergencies, such as vasovagal syncope, hypertension or respiratory distress. In patients at risk, associated with pain, it can destabilize pre-existent pathologies [37]. Therefore, an early identification and subsequent management of dental anxiety is of great beneficial for both dentists and patients. Indeed, dentists who can early identify patients with high levels of dental anxiety could intervene effectively to reduce anxiety levels by creating a more containing setting for these patients or implementing a stronger shared decision-making process by agreeing on an appropriate treatment plan [38; 39]. For example, dentists may encourage these patients to ask questions about the treatment and reassure them, or may help their patients in feeling to be in control over the situation, e.g., by agreeing on a signal (such as a raised hand) to interrupt the procedure in case of excessive anxiety.