title: A randomized controlled trial of the effect of a brief cognitive-behavioral intervention on dental fear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a brief cognitive-behavioral intervention for patients with dental fear in a private dental clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting with subjectively reported dental fear were randomly assigned to either an immediate intervention (n = 53) or a waiting list (n = 51) group. Both groups received an identical intervention, but delayed by 4-6 weeks in the waiting list group. Participants were asked to fill out two self-report questionnaires of dental fear at pre- and post-intervention, and again at a 2-year follow-up assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of variance showed that dental fear was significantly reduced in the immediate intervention group (d = 1.5-2.2), compared with the waiting list group (d = 0.3-0.4). Additionally, all participants showed a significant reduction of dental fear following the brief intervention, and in the subgroup available for follow-up, this effect was maintained after 2 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This indicates that a brief cognitive-behavioral intervention may be efficacious in helping a significant number of patients with dental fear return to regular dental treatment. Future research should investigate the applicability of a brief cognitive-behavioral intervention in the dental clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Helle
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spindler
authors.forename: Søren Risløv
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Staugaard
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicolaisen
authors.forename: Rikka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poulsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists
keywords: dental anxiety; randomized controlled trial; treatment outcome