Eur J Oral Sci 2013; 121: 219220

DOI: 10.1111/eos.12042
Printed in Singapore. All rights reserved

2013 Eur J Oral Sci

European Journal of
Oral Sciences

Preface

The First Symposium on Behavioral and Community

Dentistry at the University of Gothenburg:
Ulf Berggren and dental anxiety

This Symposium was initiated as a tribute to the life

work of Ulf Berggren, Professor of Behavioral Dentistry
at the University of Gothenburg. The Symposium was
organized by his colleagues at the Department of
Behavioral and Community Dentistry, Institute of
Odontology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University
of Gothenburg, gratefully remembering Ulfs devotion,
his generosity, and his positive and stimulating leadership and excellent research.
The symposium took place in Gothenburg during
two days in May 2012. Four distinguished researchers
were invited to lecture: Irene Aartman (the Netherlands),
Jason Armeld (Australia), Erik Skaret (Norway), and
Ilana Eli (Israel). Over the years, these researchers have
been involved in a number of Ulfs research activities and
achievements. More than 100 persons from dierent
countries, such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark,
the Netherlands, Australia, Israel, and Germany, participated during the conference, and 11 posters were
presented. The symposium concluded with a panel
discussion. In the Conference Proceedings presented
here, a number of these presentations are published as
original scientic articles. They have all been passed
through the Editorial Purgatory of the European Journal
of Oral Sciences.
Ulf Berggren was born in 1948 and obtained his
dentist license in 1974. His groundbreaking and innovative doctoral dissertation, Dental fear and avoidance: A
study of etiology, consequences and treatment (1), was
presented in 1984. Ulf was only 61 yr of age when he left
us, in May 2009.
Throughout his professional life Ulf Berggren was
engaged in developing the interdisciplinary area of
Behavioral Dentistry. The work between psychologists
and dentists in Gothenburg dates back to the 1970s,
where it started as a collaboration between the Gothenburg Public Dental Service and the Institute of
Odontology. A key person in this collaboration was

the late Alf Ohman,

Professor of Oral Diagnosis, and
Ulf became part of the work at an early stage. Due to
Ulfs rapidly growing competence and enthusiasm, the
activity gained ground and was consolidated in its
odontological environment. From a relatively humble
beginning comprising a group of a few individuals

(Fig. 1), the research area now comprises seven senior

researchers and 10 doctoral students, enrolled at the
Department of Behavioral and Community Dentistry.
Ulf published over 80 original pioneering scientic
articles and several book chapters, and supervised 11
PhD students, together illustrating his paramount contribution to the area of Behavioral Dentistry. He was
consequently honored with several national and international awards.
A most important accomplishment was the early
establishment of the interdisciplinary research and clinical unit, the Dental Fears Research and Treatment

Fig. 1. The original team in the late 1970s (left to right): Anders

Linde, Sven Carlsson, Ulf Berggren and Alf Ohman.

Fig. 2. The team in 2013 working at the Dental Fears Research

and Treatment Clinic: two psychologists, four dentists, four
dental nurses, and one dental hygienist.

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Hakeberg et al.

Clinic (DFRTC), with a novel and specic feature,

namely a clinical psychologist employed at the clinic.
This clinical organizational set-up with dental-care teams
and a psychologist was, and to some extent still is, unique
in Sweden, and also internationally, in view of its longterm existence of almost four decades (Fig. 2). Many
colleagues from near and far have visited this clinic in
order to set up similar units upon their return home.
As a result of Ulfs contributions, the Swedish
National Dental Insurance System introduced a special
measure so that adult individuals with severe dental
anxiety or phobia, and with a history of avoidance of
dental care, are able to access a treatment model
including reduced payment for psychological treatment
and initial dental care. In perspective, this is a huge
accomplishment.

This Symposium is the humble proof of gratitude from

what used to be his inner circle.

Reference
1. BERGGREN U. Dental fear and avoidance. A study of etiology,
consequences and treatment. Thesis. Gothenburg: University of
Gothenburg, 1984.
Magnus Hakeberg
Sven Carlsson
Ulla Wide Boman
Department of Behavioral and Community Dentistry,
Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy,
University of Gothenburg,
The Public Dental Service, Region Vastra G
otaland,
Sweden
E-mail: hakeberg@gu.se