A stepped-care plan using a mobile app and team-based care to treat dental fear
Official title: A Stepped-Care Approach to Treating Dental Fear: A Sequential, Multiple Assignment, Randomized Trial For Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment via Mobile App and Evidence-Based Collaborative Care
Funded at New York University · NIH-11365233 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile app plus collaborative care approach helps adults with dental fear reduce anxiety and avoid reliance on heavy anesthesia or medications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $782,828 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3DE029453-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365233 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ with dental fear who can use an Android app and engage with collaborative care.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not respond to CBT-based approaches or prefer other anxiety management methods.
What this research studies
This project aims to make dental fear treatment practical for everyday dental offices by starting with a low-intensity, self-help app and stepping up to more intensive care only if needed. It combines a smartphone app that patients can access privately with a coordinated care team to guide and monitor progress. The approach is designed for scalable use in private practices across the U.S., avoiding lengthy specialty clinic referrals. If successful, it could lead to more people overcoming dental fear and maintaining better oral health without overuse of anesthesia or sedatives.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience less anxiety and fewer dental visits requiring anesthesia or medications.
How similar studies have gone: Prior CBT trials for dental fear show efficacy, but this model focuses on scalable, clinic-integrated delivery.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heyman, Richard Eliot — New York University
- Study coordinator: Heyman, Richard Eliot
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.