Effects of dental fear treatment on general distress. The role of personality variables and treatment method.

Chadwick et al. (2000) tested three ways to calm adults who dread the dentist.

They split 45 fearful patients into three groups. One group learned applied relaxation. One got cognitive therapy. One breathed nitrous oxide.

All groups had four weekly sessions right in the dental clinic.

Every group dropped their dental fear by the same large amount.

General distress fell too, and the gains held one month later.

Personality traits did not matter once baseline fear was counted.

Plant et al. (2007) and Kaufman et al. (2010) echo the same story: cognitive therapy equals other active treatments for anxiety.

Waldron et al. (2023) adds a twist. In adults with ID and depression, baseline severity still predicts outcome, just like O et al. found with dental fear.

Lee et al. (2025) stretches the idea further. Even laughter-yoga groups can trim anxiety in teens with developmental disabilities, though the drop is smaller.

You can stop hunting for the "best" fear-buster. Pick the method that fits your client, your clinic, and your license. Nitrous works fast for medical settings. Relaxation teaches a portable skill. Cognitive therapy handles scary thoughts. All three give the same big short-term relief, so choose the one you can deliver well and bill easily.