A Dental Phobia Patient Successfully Treated by Systematic Desensitization

Abstract

A 41-year old male was too fearful of dental treatment to be treated at a dentist's office. Therefor he was referred to Tokyo Medical Hospital for treatment of the left 1st molar tooth.
Analysis of his behavior suggested that his fear of blood and injection was occured by the experience of injuring his older brother by accident in his childhood, when he saw blood spurting out. Systematic desensitization was used to decrease his fear of blood and injection, and the left 1st molar tooth was extracted on the 13th day of treatment. In addition autogenic training was used for muscle relaxation, which was also used as the second approach formula.