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Efficacy of an Internet-based Intervention for Dental Anxiety

NCT03680755 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 503

Last updated 2025-08-17

Study results available
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Summary

The overall objective of the activities described in this protocol is to examine the efficacy of the Internet-based intervention in the reduction of dental anxiety in patients seeking dental treatment. This study has 2 primary objectives and 2 secondary objectives:

Primary Objective 1-Therapy Aides: To compare the efficacy of the intervention as administered by personnel with training and experience in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to the efficacy of the intervention as administered by dental staff who have undergone a brief but specific training in the administration of the intervention.

Primary Objective 2-Intervention Efficacy: To compare the efficacy of the intervention, administered by either type of therapy aide (CBT personnel or dental staff), to an active control condition.

Secondary Objective 1-Tests of Moderators: To examine whether baseline levels of distress tolerance and pain sensitivity moderate the efficacy of the dental anxiety intervention, regardless of therapy aide, in comparison to an active control condition.

Secondary Objective 2-Other Intervention Effects: To explore effects of the intervention beyond primary efficacy, including attendance at recall visits in the 12 months after the intervention; pain intensity; avoidance due to fear of dental procedures; and client satisfaction.

Conditions

  • Dental Anxiety

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Internet-based intervention for dental anxiety

Participants will complete the experimental dental anxiety management program, which will be facilitated by a person trained in psychological treatments or by dental staff. This program consists of a series of videos which provide information about dental anxiety, educate about the details of three dental procedures which are anxiety-provoking for the participant, and teach them how to cope better with the dental experience. This program will take about 60 minutes to complete.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

    collaborator NIH

  • Temple University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Marisol Tellez Merchan, PhD · Professor

  • Eugene M Dunne, PhD · Assistant Professor

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
75 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2019-07-24
Primary Completion
2024-10-03
Completion
2024-10-03

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03680755 on ClinicalTrials.gov