American Journal of Oral Medicine and Radiology

EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN MANAGING DENTAL ANXIETY AMONG PATIENTS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Dr. Anbu

Dental Anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Pediatric Dentistry, Randomized Controlled Trial, Behavioral Avoidance Test

A study conducted by pediatric dentists investigated the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in alleviating dental anxiety among children, a condition affecting approximately 4% of the pediatric population. Dental anxiety not only contributes to a decline in oral health but also induces pain and psychological distress in affected individuals. The study employed a randomized and controlled trial with parallel groups, wherein treatment allocation was concealed from assessors conducting the behavioral avoidance test. Sixty participants, comprising 16 boys and 44 girls, were divided into two groups: CBT (n=26) and sedation-assisted treatment (n=34). The CBT group received ten hours of therapy following a structured treatment manual, while clinical treatments were administered in a naturalistic setting. Assessments were conducted at three intervals: three months after treatment initiation, three months post-treatment completion, and one year post-treatment completion. Results from repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed statistically significant improvements in children who underwent CBT compared to those receiving standard treatment. There were substantial differences in effect sizes between the two groups. Specifically, 74% of participants in the CBT group successfully managed the behavioral avoidance test, contrasting starkly with the mere 13% success rate observed in the standard treatment group. Furthermore, following one year of treatment, 32% of individuals in the CBT group no longer met the diagnostic criteria for depression, as opposed to only 2% in the treatment-as-usual group. The study also reported significant enhancements in dental anxiety and selfefficacy measures among the CBT group compared to controls. Based on these findings, the authors recommend the incorporation of CBT into pediatric dental practices to effectively address anxiety among children and adolescents, thereby facilitating their psychological well-being and overall oral health