Treatment outcomes for specific subtypes of dental fear: preliminary clinical findings.

Abstract

In order to examine the clinical treatment outcome for dental fears, we examined 111 active patient records retrospectively using an 80-item structured format. Subjects were from three fear subtypes: needle phobic (N = 15), gagger (N = 11), and non-specific dental fear (N = 85). Mean subtype Dental Fear Survey scores ranged from 72.3 to 81.0. Patients received either behavioral therapy alone (N = 85) or behavioral therapy with a nitrous oxide or IV sedation adjunct (N = 26). Mean psychological treatment time was 3.9 hours (SD = 2.8 h) and did not differ by fear subtype (p > 0.05). All patients successfully completed initial dental treatment. Relapse of fear requiring additional psychological treatment occurred only in the non-specific fear subtype (rate = 11.2%). Patients receiving pharmacologic adjuncts to behavior therapy (nitrous oxide) experienced less relapse.