Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Could be the Answer for Dental Phobia Sufferers
Dental phobia is a common problem in the UK, but cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) could be the solution.
Dental phobia is a severe, irrational fear of going to the dentist or undergoing dental treatment and in some cases people are so worried about going to the dentist that they put off treatment for years and suffer terrible pain and discomfort as a result.
A study, which has been published in the British Dental Journal, has suggested that cognitive behavioural therapy could provide a solution for people who suffer from dental phobia. The study claims that just one session of CBT could be beneficial for patients who suffer with severe fears about going to the dentist or having dental treatment.
The findings of the study were based on a trial study of 60 patients, all of whom relied on intravenous sedation before having dental treatment. All 60 patients had been to a specialist practice in Sheffield, which provided care for people with severe dental phobia. Half of the group was offered CBT and of the 21 who accepted therapy, 20 were able to go on and have treatment without the need for sedation. A review carried out ten years later revealed that none of the patients had been sedated before having treatment within the last decade.
The findings of the study have caused the authors to urge dental providers across the UK to offer CBT to patients with dental phobia.
Join this Discussion
