A pilot dental care program, which employs psychologists to persuade patients to brush more, has reversed decay in many patients.

It resulted in a 50 per cent decline in the need for first-time fillings, a 40 per cent reduction in the incidence of decay and a 50 per cent reduction in repeat visits to the dentist, Sydney University says.

That's great news for the 50 per cent of Australians who hate the drill so much that they avoid the dentist entirely or go infrequently. As a result, nearly 30 per cent of adults aged 25 to 40 have untreated dental decay.

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