Reference/Features

Management of dental fear, anxiety and phobia

8 mins read Dental phobia/anxiety
Patients are often fearful, anxious or even phobic about visiting the dentist. This can be approached in a number of ways and patients should be assessed to find the most suitable option. If dental anxiety is managed, patient outcomes can be greatly improved

Many patients who attend for dental care are fearful, anxious or phobic (FAP) (Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2011); the percentage of people who do not attend because of FAP is unknown.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC, 2010) and the General Dental Council (GDC, 2013) lay down the framework within which dental care professionals work when considering the needs of such dental FAP patients.

The CQC (2010a) sets out what providers should do to make sure patients ‘get effective, safe and appropriate care, treatment and support that meets their individual needs’.

The GDC (2013) sets out nine principles, the first of which is ‘Put patients’ interests first’. Under this heading, the GDC sets out nine ‘patient expectations’, five of which we believe apply to the management of dental FAP. Patients expect:

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