Parallel study about the effects of psychotherapy on patients with dental phobia determined by anxiety scores and saliva secretion and composition

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the success of psychotherapeutic treatment for dental phobia by measurement of anxiety using the dental anxiety score (DAS), the state trait anxiety score (STAI state), salivary cortisol and protein concentrations and the salivary secretion rate. Primary endpoint of the study was the comparison of the data before and after psychotherapeutic treatment. METHODS: Forty patients were included into the study. Twenty-four were allocated to the phobic group, 16 to the control group. Saliva was collected upon entering the dental clinic and again after three weeks of psychotherapy. The results were compared with those of a control group. The DAS and STAI questionnaires were completed at each visit. RESULTS: A reduction in DAS values was found after psychotherapy. However, the values remained significantly higher in the phobic group than in the controls. Similar results were found for STAI scores. A slightly higher salivary cortisol level was found in the phobic group. No changes occurred in cortisol or protein concentrations. The salivary secretion rate increased in the phobic patients after psychotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: It could be concluded that psychotherapy is effective in the treatment of dental phobic patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been retrospectively registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (# DRKS00009552) on 10/19/15. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12903-016-0264-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.