A fresh look at fear

It is especially important to greet a new patient in the waiting room, so that building rapport can begin whilst walking to the surgery. If you know that they are anxious, fearful or phobic, it is important to avoid keeping them waiting. Smiling – full face, with eyes and teeth – will put the patient at ease and show that you are genuinely pleased to see them. You could even silently project a ‘message’ of goodwill. This subtly softens your facial expression, which the patient perceives at a subconscious level.

This first visit is an opportunity to talk to the patient. Asking the patient to fill out a questionnaire is a good starting point. The Modified Corah Questionaire is a good start and you can download this from WhatFear. com. This version, devised by Dr Mike Gow, includes extra questions that really help to ascertain where and when the patient's fear began. It is usually, as mentioned in the last month's article, a previous traumatic dental experience – although sometimes there are other underlying factors. The initial consultation is an opportunity to listen to the patient and encouraging them to describe and explain ‘feelings’.