Dissemination of a Brief Dental Fear Intervention

Dental FearLess, is a self-administered psychoeducational intervention that will be accessed by participants via their personal smart device (In other words, this is an online application in which investigators present information about dental procedures. The user selects the procedure on which they would like information and then views a brief video on the selected procedure. It uses evidence-based tools to help participants manage their thoughts, feelings, and behavior related to dental fear to reduce fear during encounters with dental professionals.

This session is a 1-hour-in-person Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) dental fear session by study staff at the dental office. Participants will practice managing their thoughts, behaviors, and/or feelings when exposed to stimuli that they report still fearing. After each practice situation, the mental health provider and participant discuss the disconfirmatory evidence generated by the situation.