PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Abstracts of Articles Published by Dr. Michael Krochak

Full reprints of these articles can be sent to you at no charge by calling our office at (212) 838-2900.

"An Overview of the Treatment of Anxious and Phobic Dental Patients"
The Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, May 1993,pp.604-615.

This article helps dentists learn to identify the dentally anxious patient and understand the etiologies of their fears. It also teaches how to assess the level of fear in each individual patient. Various forms of relaxation techniques are introduced and behavior modification techniques are taught to help desensitize the patient’s fears. Lastly, suggested modifications of treatment and office protocols are given to enable any dental office to accommodate these special patients.

"The Psychodynamics of Dental Anxiety and Dental Phobia"
Dental Clinics of North America, Oct. 1988, pp.647-654.

In this article, the differences between fear, anxiety and phobia are discussed. The fear response is discussed on an emotional, intellectual and physiological level. Panic attacks and hysteria reactions are also mentioned. The learning of dental fears is discussed and lastly, behavior modification therapy is introduced to help overcome these fears.

"Using a Precision-Metered Injection System to Minimize Dental Injection Anxiety"
The Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, Feb. 1998, pp.137-147.

Dr. Krochak participated on the research and development team for "The Wand", a virtually painless computer assisted injection system to administer local anesthetics. This article teaches dentists to recognize the prevalence of injection anxiety. It also explains the design limitations of the standard hypodermic syringe. It further describes the benefits of this new precision-metered injection system. In this study, 90% of dental patients reported being at least mildly anxious about receiving dental injections. Surveys were administered to quantify the patient’s fears of dental injections and to measure the desensitization effects of using the new Wand injection system. According to this study, fear levels were reduced by 75-80%, using the new technology.

Other published articles:
"Management of the Phobic Denture Patient"
Practical Periodontics and Aesthetic Dentistry, March 1990, pp.36-38.

"Treatment of Dental Phobia: A Report of Two Cases"
Phobia Practice and Research Journal, Spring 1988, pp.64-72.

"A Protocol for Evaluation for Endosteal Dental Implants"
The New York Journal of Dentistry, Dec. 1986, pp.15-18.

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