Dental fear and avoidance: a comparison of two modes of treatment

Ninety-nine individuals, all of whom had long avoided dental treatment due to severe dental fear, received therapy according to one of two treatment modalities--behavioral therapy from a psychologist (BT) and treatment under general anesthesia (GA)--both of which were followed by clinical training and dental test treatments. These treatment programs were followed by referring the individuals to community dental clinics for complete oral rehabilitation. Among BT patients, significantly more (92%) completed the treatment program, compared with the GA patients (69%). Complete oral rehabilitation in community dental clinics was achieved by 78 and 53%, respectively. BT patients also had a significantly lower frequency of cancellations. The reduction in dental anxiety according to the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale was substantial in both groups, but the anxiety was significantly more reduced for BT patients, who reached a level equivalent to that of average dental patients. Patients' self-reported tension and the dentists' ratings of patient behavior during treatment were also significantly more positive for the BT groups.