Journal of Dental Research, Vol 65, 874-876, Copyright © 1986 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals

ARTICLES

Long-term effects of two different treatments for dental fear and avoidance

U. Berggren

Follow-up clinical studies of treatment for dental fear and avoidance behavior are infrequent in the literature. The present investigation reports follow-up results over more than two years from 84 out of 99 patients treated for dental fear in a Swedish community-based dental fear clinic. Broad-based behavioral therapy (BT) or general anesthesia (GA), both in combination with adjusted conventional dental treatment, were used. The frequency of patients' attendance for regular dental care after two years was unchanged or even somewhat increased and was significantly higher in those who had received the BT therapy. Most patients stated that they had no problems after leaving the dental fear clinic. Among patients reporting such problems, the change of dentist was most frequently reported. The level of dental anxiety as measured by Corah's DAS was still at a low level, in spite of a slight increase over the two years since initial therapy.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				O. Vassend, T. Willumsen, and A. Hoffart Effects of Dental Fear Treatment on General Distress: The Role of Personality Variables and Treatment Method Behav Modif, September 1, 2000; 24(4): 580 - 599. [Abstract] [PDF]