Virtual reality exposure therapy for treatment of dental phobia
Abstract
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) has gained in popularity as an effective treatment for anxiety disorders. The purpose of this article is to determine the applicability of VRET in the treatment of dental phobia of two patients. Two case examples of female dental patients, aged 56 and 24 years, who met the criteria for dental phobia according to the Phobia Checklist, illustrate the use of VRET in the dental setting. VRET that is used as a psychological treatment for dental fear and dental phobia can potentially be given by a non-specialist (for example dental assistant), thereby making it a cost-effective therapy for the treatment of dental phobia. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article is the first of its kind to demonstrate Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) in the treatment of dental anxiety.
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- Authors
- Gujjar, K. R., Sharma, R., & Jongh, A. D.
- Affiliations
- Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (NL)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Venue
- Dental Update
- Publisher
- Mark Allen Group
- Published
- 2017-05-02
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 423-435
- ISSN
- 0305-5000 (ISSN-L)
- 2515-589X
- OpenAlex
- W2733898052
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 2.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Dental Update (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Cross Connect (Southern Cross University) (submittedVersion)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Worcester Research and Publications (University of Worcester) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Oral Surgery › Dental Anxiety and Anesthesia Techniques
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- virtual reality exposure therapy, dental phobia, dental anxiety, anxiety disorders, dental assistants, cost-effective treatment
- MeSH terms
- Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Dental Anxiety, Young Adult, Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
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