title: Children and parents' experiences of cognitive behavioral therapy for dental anxiety--a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a high prevalence of dental anxiety in children and adolescents. Cognitive behavioral therapy is emerging as a treatment option.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to explore how children with dental anxiety and their parents experience cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in dentistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed 12 children and one of their parents and conducted a thematic analysis of the transcribed interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perspective shift emerged as overarching theme in our thematic analysis. This theme consisted of three main themes, which were mastery, safety, and reduced fear. Six subthemes were also identified according to our analyses. Mastery includes two subthemes, gradual exposure and autonomy and control. Subthemes and sources for safety feeling were therapeutic alliance and changed appraisal. The theme reduced fear also consisted of two subthemes; reduced anticipatory anxiety and coping.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that parents and children had positive experiences of CBT and its outcome and were able to benefit from this psychological treatment when dealing with dental anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Shervin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7296-4920
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahnavaz
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rutley
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dahllöf
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult