Analyze the impact of patient psychology in a dental practice by describing the different strategies that reduce anxiety in patients

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary but should include some or all of the following points:
The dental front office administrator should include the following questions in the first conversation with the patient:
? When was your last dental visit?
? What procedure was performed?
? How did it make you feel?
? Are you concerned about any aspect of the dental office?
If the responses indicate anxiety, the dental front office administrator can assure the patient that the entire dental staff is very interested in working people through their dental fears and also stress that dental anxiety is normal. Since many people with dental phobia do not come to their first scheduled appointment, this initial reassurance may be necessary to give the patient the bravery to walk through the front door of the practice. The dental front office administrator should take note of the patient's responses and inform the dentist of them before the patient's arrival. The patient's first visit can be structured differently if he or she has exhibited anxiety.
Spending some time at the initial treatment-planning appointment identifying patient fears can be very helpful in easing the patient's fears. Patients should be assured that the dental staff cares about their emotional state as well as the condition of their teeth.
The dental staff can incorporate many skills into standard procedures that will reduce anxiety in patients. Following are some strategies that may be utilized to help reduce a patient's anxiety or fear of dental services: scheduling, interviewing the patient personally, letting the patient feel welcome, using previously successful coping skills, clearly stating the expectations for the visit, setting up a signal for communication, asking the patient what he or she would prefer, taking care with ambiance, providing hand-outs, offering praise, playing music, providing relaxation and stress-reduction exercises.