Fear reduction in patients with dental treatment phobia.

In a clinical trial, we examined short- and medium-term reduction of dental fear in patients with dental phobia. Ninety-one patients selected one of two treatments or no intervention before oral surgery (control group). One group comprised a one-session psychological treatment and included 25 patients. The second group chose oral selected midazolam and included 30 patients. Thirty-six patients chose the control group. In total, 50 patients completed the study (10 controls, 20 in the midazolam group, an d 20 in the treated group). The degree of fear was assessed by the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale. Before the operation, both interventions caused the degree of fear to fall significantly compared with the control group. Two months later, the midazolam group showed a return to baseline fear, whereas the psychologically treated group showed further improvement. Medium-term results after one year showed that compliance and reduction of fear remained only in the psychologically treated group. Copyright 2000 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.