This week’s episode of Therapy Thursday marks the beginning of Chelsea’s series “Dental Anxiety 101”, a primer on all things dental anxiety. This first installment in the series looks specifically at how and why dental anxiety starts, and offers a primer on trauma as well.
Episode Highlights:
- The possible biopsychosocial reasons behind dental anxiety
- Trauma and its effects
- The importance of having a base of empathy and compassion for these patients
Quotes:
“Sexual trauma and abuse…can also have an effect on dental or medical treatment or any vulnerable positioning really at any point in someone’s life.”
“Oftentimes where there’s social factors, I’m actually talking to them before they go into the dental office because it’s more about interviewing and finding a good office that can be somewhere that they trust.”
“Fight, flight or freeze…you will see this with your dental patients…that is their system kind of protecting themselves…”
“The great news is that there is so much that we can do for these patients.”
“If you understand that the body just responds in these ways sometimes because of the culmination of that person’s life and experiences, then it makes total sense.”
“They just don’t want to be belittled for their fear.”
“I’m not asking you all to be counselors for your patients.”
“There are so many instances where there is actually some deep, deep crud going on in this person’s life, and I know that these patients can be difficult to deal with sometimes.”
“You deserve to be treated with respect in your office…you can definitely still set appropriate boundaries with these patients.”
“If they are only ready for baby steps, then you go baby steps.”
Links:
More Therapy Thursday Episodes:
https://ataleoftwohygienists.com/therapythursday/
The Dental Podcast Network Channel One homepage:
http://dentalpodcastnetworkchannelone.otcpn.libsynpro.com/
The Dental Podcast Network Channel Two homepage:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dental-podcast-networks-channel-two/id1478530429
The CDC website defining Adverse Childhood Experiences:
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/acestudy/index.html
Rising Strong by Brene Brown
The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook 6th Edition by Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D.
