Managing Fear and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Dental Hygiene Visits with Guided Biofilm Therapy: A Conceptual Model  
[PERSON]  
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[PERSON]  
2 Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 2A, 60-806 Poznan, Poland; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
[PERSON]  
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Footnote 1: email: {[[https://doi.org/10.3390/app1488159](https://doi.org/10.3390/app1488159)]([https://doi.org/10.3390/app1488159](https://doi.org/10.3390/app1488159))}  
Footnote 2: email: {[[https://doi.org/10.3390/app1488159](https://doi.org/10.3390/app1488159)]([https://doi.org/10.3390/app1488159](https://doi.org/10.3390/app1488159))}  
Footnote 3: email: {[[https://doi.org/10.3390/app14881](https://doi.org/10.3390/app14881)]([https://doi.org/10.3390/app14881](https://doi.org/10.3390/app14881))  
The persistently high incidence of caries and periodontal diseases in Poland [9], along with increased life expectancy and improved quality of life [10], indicates that there is a growing need for dental treatment and for attending regular hygiene visits (professional teeth cleaning). Thus, fear and anxiety about dental visits are common problems that can affect the frequency and quality of patient visits. The ability to identify negative emotions in individuals attending dental hygiene visits can contribute to effectively directing the dental team's actions to reduce the risk of experiencing fear, anxiety, and dentophobia. A review of the provides numerous publications analyzing anxiety experienced before dental treatment. These studies indicate that dental anxiety can have various sources, including previous negative experiences, individual susceptibility to anxiety, social factors--such as familial and cultural attitudes toward dental care--and environmental influences, like the design of the dental clinic, the sounds of dental tools, and interactions with staff. It is important to note that this anxiety can lead to the avoidance of dental visits [11; 12], which in turn contributes to the deterioration of oral health, including the development of caries and periodontal diseases. Furthermore, patients with high levels of anxiety often require more advanced treatment, which can intensify their anxiety, creating a vicious cycle [13]. Although most studies focus on anxiety associated with more invasive dental procedures, there is a growing interest in studying anxiety during routine hygiene visits. These visits, though less invasive, can evoke similar emotions. They may stem from fear of pain, discomfort, or negative evaluation by the dentist or hygienist. However, there are few studies on the fear and anxiety experienced by patients before hygiene (preventive) visits, which should occur frequently to prevent the need for later interventional and therapeutic procedures. Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) (Figure 1) is a modern and potentially more comfortable [14] method of dental prophylaxis that is gradually replacing traditional techniques. Given this shift, it is important to assess how GBT procedures impact patient anxiety levels. This study aims to explore the effect of GBT on reducing anxiety during hygiene procedures, focusing on how this innovative and more comfortable technique may improve patient experience and adherence to preventive care. By investigating the role of GBT in alleviating dental anxiety, we aim to contribute to better patient outcomes and overall oral health at a population level. Figure 1: Hygiene in the GBT protocol and the AirFlow Prophylaxis Master device. Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) technology is a modern preventive method that focuses on the removal of bacterial biofilm using specialized tools and techniques (Figure 2). The procedure involves eight defined steps performed by the clinician. Traditional methods for removing dental deposits did not provide tools, agents, and the capability to remove biofilm, including subgingival biofilm, focusing solely on supragir-girular tartar.