Journal of Dental Research, Vol 71, 1832-1835, Copyright © 1992 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals

ARTICLES

Correlates of success and failure in behavior therapy for dental fear

M. Kleinhauz, I. Eli, R. Baht and D. Shamay
Section of Behavioral Sciences, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University.

Extreme dental fear and avoidance are universal problems, with severe adverse effects on the patient's oral health. Although behavior modification techniques were shown to be effective in the treatment of this problem, their success is by no means absolute. In the present article, the SCL-90 questionnaire was used for development of possible predictive measures for success and failure of behavior modification as a treatment for dental fear. Patients who failed in treatment through behavior modification were found to score significantly higher on the global score of Positive Symptom Distress Index (p < 0.01) and on individual subscales of somatization (p < 0.02) and psychoticism (p < 0.05) than patients who were treated successfully. The predictive value of chosen SCL-90 scales was 71%. The results suggest that use of SCL-90 may be valuable for the prediction of success and failure of behavior modification as a treatment for dental fear and avoidance.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. R. Samorodnitzky and L. Levin Self-Assessed Dental Status, Oral Behavior, DMF, and Dental Anxiety J Dent Educ., December 1, 2005; 69(12): 1385 - 1389. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				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]

				A. Liddell and D. Locker Changes in Levels of Dental Anxiety as a Function of Dental Experience Behav Modif, January 1, 2000; 24(1): 57 - 68. [Abstract] [PDF]