One in twenty adults in Norway suffers from severe dental anxiety, yet there are few robust studies on whether, and how, dentists themselves can treat this condition effectively.
In this study, 20 dentists will receive training in two established treatment approaches for managing dental anxiety. The first method combines effective patient communication with the option to offer a short-acting sedative, as recommended by the Norwegian Directorate of Health for dental procedures. The second method is a psychological approach based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Both methods have shown promising results in smaller-scale trials. Each dentist will recruit 10 patients from their clinic to participate in the project.
The treatment offered is free of charge and consists of five hours of anxiety-focused care. The emphasis will be on working with and addressing patients’ anxiety, but some dental procedures may also take place to help familiarize patients with the treatment environment. Important principles in both methods are voluntariness, consent, and allowing patients to feel in control of their treatment. After completing the programme, patients may choose to continue their dental care with the same dentist, change to a different dentist, or, if necessary, be referred for further anxiety treatment to a specialized interdisciplinary team (TOO team), which includes both a psychologist and a dentist.
How Will Patients Be Assessed?
All patients who participate will fill out a questionnaire about their dental anxiety before starting and after completing treatment. Through these forms, we will measure changes in anxiety and evaluate the effectiveness of both treatment methods. Patients will also be invited to share their experiences of the treatment process, as well as their level of satisfaction.
Recruitment for the study will begin in October. More information about participating dentists, their locations, and practical guidance on joining the project will be published in August and September.
Approvals
The study has been approved by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK).
TSD
Data Collection: 01.11.2025 - 31.06.2026
Funding
This project is funded by the University of Oslo and has received additional financial support from the Norwegian Dental Association, the Dam Foundation via the Council for Mental Health, and the dental clinic group Odontia.
