Dental Anxiety, Fear and Phobia for the General Dentistry Practice

The purpose of this half day course is to educate the general dentist on the clinically relevant differences between dental anxiety, fear and phobia along with the detrimental effects that each condition has on oral health. Community prevalence and associated risk factors will be explored. Participants will be exposed to techniques, supported through literature, on how to clinically assess for each of anxiety, fear and phobia. Participants will be educated on evidence-based interventions utilized to manage anxiety, fear and phobias. Techniques that aim to improve patient dental care acceptance for each condition will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Definitions and Clinical Differences of Anxiety, Fear and Phobia 
   1. Medical Definition Presented
   2. Exposure to Medical Sub-types of Anxiety, Fear and Phobia
   3. Narrowed Focus on Anxiety, Fear and Phobia impact on the Dentist
   4. Exposure to Prevalence and Oral Health Impact of Dental Anxiety, Fear and Phobia
2. The Nervous Patient 
   1. Exposure to Risk Factors of Dental Anxiety, Fear and Phobia
   2. Exposure to Validated Methods the Dentist can easy use to Determine Dental Anxiety, Fear and Phobia
   3. Understanding Limitations in the Dentist’s Management of Anxiety, Fears and Phobias
3. Techniques in Dentistry for Improving Acceptance
   1. Non-pharmacological Evidence-Based Interventions with Aim to Reduce or Manage Dental Anxiety, Fear and Phobia
   2. Pharmacological Evidence-Based Interventions with Aim to Reduce or Manage Dental Anxiety, Fear and Phobia