Behavior therapy can overcome fear of the dentist

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help people overcome their fear of going to the dentist and be able to receive treatment without sedatives, according to a study by King’s College London. CBT lasts for up to 10 sessions and is proven to help depression and anxiety relates disorders.

The latest study, published in the British Dental Journal, looked at the characteristics of 130 patients attending a psychologist-led CBT service and the outcomes of their treatment.

Patients with dental anxiety, general anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts were referred to undergo CBT service.

Of all patients referred, four-fifths (79%) went on to have dental treatment without the need for sedation and 6% had their dental treatment under sedation. The average number of CBT appointments required before a patient received dental treatment without sedation was five.

Professor Tim Newton from the Dental Institute at King’s College London and lead author of the study said: “People with dental phobia are most commonly given sedation to allow them to become relaxed enough for a short period of time to have their dental treatment performed. However this does not help them to overcome their fear in the long term. The primary goal of our CBT service is to enable patients to receive dental treatment without the need for sedation, by working with each individual patient to set goals according to their priorities. Our study shows that after on average five CBT sessions, most people can go on to be treated by the dentist without the need to be sedated.”

“However, there is a need for people with dental phobia to be carefully assessed by trained CBT practitioners working with dental health professionals. Some of the patients referred to us were found to be experiencing additional psychological difficulties, and needed further referral and management. CBT provides a way of reducing the need for sedation in people with a phobia, but there will still be those who need sedation because they require urgent dental treatment or they are having particularly invasive treatments. Our service should be viewed as complementing sedation services rather than as an alternative, the two together providing a comprehensive care pathway for the ultimate benefit of patients.”

Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies