The Journal of the American Dental Association
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"Pain catastrophizing" refers to an exaggerated negative mental set brought to bear during an actual or anticipated painful experience. A patient's perception of a dental care experience as catastrophic can result not only in poor satisfaction with the therapy but also in avoidance of necessary treatments, resulting in the deterioration of oral health. ⋯ To manage the care of patients who catastrophize, the clinician can actively probe patients' pain experience, help them reappraise threat, manipulate their attention to pain and improve dentist-patient communication.