A coalition of Pennsylvania healthcare providers is launching a study to develop new ways to treat people who avoid dental care because of past trauma, such as domestic violence or sexual abuse.
Water Street Health Ministries will join Lancaster General Health Hospital, St. Joseph Health Ministries, Franklin & Marshall College, and the local dental community to participate in a $100,000 trauma-informed dentistry study called Restore, according to a lancasteronline.com story.
The study will include 150 lower income people who will be exposed to one of three models designed to reduce dental anxiety, including environmental, interpersonal, and relaxation-oriented models. The study will include efforts to use nonpharmaceutical remedies.
Colleen Elmer, director of Water Street Health Services, said she has seen grown men screaming because they were so afraid of going to the dentist. She noted that phobia of dentists is common, and failure to receive regular dental care can have major repercussions for a person's long-term health.
After six months in the study, patients will be reassessed to see if their anxiety levels have decreased. People who want to take part in the study can apply online through the website wsm.org/restore. The evidence-based results of the study will be provided to local dentists and published in a professional journal.
