Be there for your patients
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 5th October 2021
Dental anxiety is more than simply a twinge of nervousness when facing dental appointments and treatments: it can be a severely debilitating condition that can wreak havoc on a patient’s life, as well as their oral health. For dental professionals, it can be difficult seeing patients in such a poor state, as well as seeing what adverse effects it has on their health.
It’s easy to see how patients are caught in a cyclical pattern where they need treatment, but are too anxious to get the issue sorted. Treatment avoidance can lead to the exacerbation of oral health issues, such as tooth decay or caries. The early signs of these issues won’t be caught by dentists, and patients may not recognise the warning signs till it’s too late. In fact, a study[i] has shown that those with high levels of dental anxiety suffer the poorest oral health-related quality of life in Britain.
However, there are things dental professionals can do to not only make patients calmer and their experience more positive, but encourage patients to prioritise their oral health.
What triggers dental anxiety?
With 10 million adults in the UK suffering from dental anxiety,[ii] it is no wonder that the condition is so alarming to dental professionals.
But what triggers it? The condition is harmful and gruelling, with varying degrees of severity from patient to patient, treatment to treatment. A survey[iii] was taken to determine the impact of dental anxiety on the population and what some of the causes are. 42% said the fear of pain put them off, 30% said the general anxiety felt put them off, and 29% said needles made them anxious to visit. These are all very general but understandable concerns to have, though there are other specific causes for dental anxiety that are harder to isolate.
A recent study[iv] showed that patients with a high level of dental anxiety have a correlation with other comorbid phobias, such as agoraphobia, social phobia and also more specific fears, such as those of enclosed spaces or blood. The study also finds a positive correlation between dental anxiety and depression.
Thus, poor mental health is a likely trigger for dental anxiety; as you know, conditions such as depression cause a decrease in oral health, due to the neglect of hygienic habits, as well as poor dietary choices.[v] Patients may feel nervous due to the condition of their teeth, and possibly about being reprimanded by the dentist.[vi]
What can dental professionals do to help?
It is not the job of the dental professional to treat mental illness, and dental anxiety is an intricate condition that is hard to navigate. However, there are things you can do that make accessing dental care a more calming experience.
Due to the pandemic, virtual consultations were largely implemented. Continuing to use them means anxious patients can establish a relationship with the dental professional, ask any questions, and just get a general feel for the practice – without physically visiting. They won’t have to leave the comfort of their home, and can regain a sense of control, knowing there won’t be any surprises when they do attend the practice.
Planning rest breaks is also beneficial; many patients won’t want to seem ‘difficult’, and will push through treatment to get it over and done with. Scheduling rest breaks throughout treatment means patients will have some structure and predictability. Future appointments won’t be such a cause for concern, as you have established a trusting relationship with them.
Help patients feel comfortable
As a dental professional, ensuring your patient’s comfort is paramount. Being able to identify dental anxiety, as well as improve the dental experience for each patient, makes all the difference to those who need the extra support. If you’re thinking about more ways you could make the patient experience less stressful, why not attend the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show Birmingham 2022 next May, where you will discover a myriad of innovative patient management techniques, among many other topics.
Patient welfare is your top priority, so it’s important to continue helping patients put their oral health first.
The next British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show Birmingham will be held on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th May 2022, Birmingham NEC, co-located with DTS.
For more information, visit birmingham.dentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270 or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com
[i] National Library of Medicine. The association between dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life in Britain. Available online. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14961842/. Accessed 18 Aug. 21.
[ii] Oral Health Foundation. Income, education and social isolation linked to dental anxiety in new report. Available online. https://www.dentalhealth.org/News/income-education-and-social-isolation-linked-to-dental-anxiety-in-new-report. Accessed 18 Aug. 21.
[iii] The Dental Law Partnership. The impact of dental anxiety on Brits. Available online: https://dentallaw.co.uk/impact-dental-anxiety-brits/. Accessed 18 Aug. 21.
[iv]US National Library of Medicine Nation Institutes of Health. The association between dental anxiety and psychiatric disorders and symptoms: A systematic review. Available online:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6142663/. Accessed 18 Aug. 21.
[v] Oral Health Foundation. Mental illness and oral health. Available online: https://www.dentalhealth.org/mental-illness-and-oral-health. Accessed 18 Aug. 21.
[vi] Oral Health Foundation. Health charity sets out the five ways to help you reduce your dental anxiety. Available online: https://www.dentalhealth.org/News/health-charity-sets-out-the-five-ways-to-help-you-to-reduce-your-dental-anxiety. Accessed 18 Aug. 21.
