Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Benefits People With Dental Phobia

Does visting a dentist alarm you? Then go for a CBT Session with your therapist. People who suffer with dental phobia may easily overcome their fear through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), revealed a new study.A recent study published //in the British Dental Journal conducted by a team of researchers at the King’s College London found that CBT which is a common treatment prescribed for psychiatric patients will also benefit people with dental phobia. It also help them to undergo dental procedures without any fear.

Researchers analyzed 130 patients attending a psychologist-led CBT service and the outcomes of their treatment. Factors such as dental anxiety, general anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, alcohol use and oral health-related quality of life were surveyed in them through a Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS).

They found that fear of dental injections and the dental drill were the most common high scoring items on the MDAS. 94% of patients reported dental phobia, 37% had anxiety disorder and 12% had depression.

After the CBT treatment, 79% of them went on to have dental treatment without the need for sedation and 6% had their dental treatment under sedation.

Reference: Kani et al “Characteristics of patients attending for cognitive behavioral therapy at one UK specialist unit for dental phobia and outcomes of treatment,”British Dental Journal, 219, 501 - 506 (2015), 27 November 2015, doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.890

Source-Medindia