General Dental Phobia Resources
Local Anaesthesia
Iatrosedation, Language and Communication
CBT
Hypnosis
Abuse Survivors
Gagging
Sedation
Dental Patient Forms and Research Questionnaires
Suggest a Resource
General Dental Phobia Resources
Books
- Treating Fearful Dental Patients – A Patient Management Handbook” by Peter Milgrom, Philip Weinstein and Tracy Getz (Second Edition, 1995): this out-of-print book, which contains many practical tips, can be viewed online.
Articles
- Dental Anxiety, Fear and Phobia (PDF file): An introduction to dental anxiety, fear and phobia for the entire dental team by Mike Gow
Local Anaesthesia
Books and DVDs
The following book and DVD comes highly recommended: “Handbook of Local Anesthesia by Stanley Malamed – 6th Ed. / 2012 and Malamed’s Local Anesthesia Administration DVD
Articles
- An article describing the reasons for failed local anaesthesia and how to overcome them: How to overcome failed local anaesthesia by J.G. Meechan (PDF file)
- A step-by-step account on how to procede if local anaesthesia fails. “Give your patients a ‘wow’ experience – don’t hurt them” by Josh Bernstein (PDF file)
- Information with photos on the Gow-Gates Block, Akinosi technique, intraosseous injections, periodontal ligament injections, anatomic variation, painless injections, reasons for incomplete anaesthesia and how to circumvent them: Local Anaesthetic Technique by David A. Isen
Videos
- Try before you buy: Malamed’s Local Anaesthesia videos on Youtube.
- Milestone Scientific‘s website provides videos on CompuDent/STA injection techniques in addition to product information.
Iatrosedation, Language and Communication
- Nathan Friedman’s classic (1967) paper on iatrosedation as a PDF download: Iatrosedation (PDF file)
- Lincoln Hirst shares his tips for communicating with nervous patients, giving many practical examples: Some thoughts on language and apprehensive patients (PDF download)
- Fraser Hendrie’s Top Tips for Treating Nervous Patients as a PDF download: Top Tips for Treating Nervous Patients (PDF download)
- Mike Gow’s paper describes how to use positive language and suggestion in your practice, and also gives an example of a positively framed patient leaflet following tooth removal: The Use of Positive Language in Dentistry (PDF file)
CBT
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for people with dental fear and anxiety: A toolkit: A unique collaboration between SAAD and the King’s College London Dental Institute Health Psychology Service has resulted in this guide to Cognitive Behavioural Techniques for people with dental fear and anxiety. The toolkit is aimed at dental healthcare professionals who wish to work with people with dental fear, combining effective and proven cognitive behavioural techniques with pharmacological management. Cost: £30 plus P+P.
Hypnosis
Articles
- Keeping an Open Mind (PDF file): Dentist Mike Gow explains some of the ways hypnotherapy can be used in day-to-day practice.
- Hypnosis at Work (PDF file): An introduction to the uses of hypnosis in pain control by Mike Gow.
Organisations
- The European Society of Hypnosis consists of 36 Constituent Societies from 17 different countries throughout Europe, including over 10,000 professionals from the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, Psychology and allied professions. This website will keep you updated with the newest developments in professional hypnosis and organisations in Europe.
- The British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis provides training of health professionals by health professionals in the clinical uses of hypnosis and is a resource for both health professionals and members of the public who are seeking information about hypnosis.
- The British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis Scotland (BSMDH Scotland) aims to encourage and promote excellence in the use of Hypnosis by registered Medical and Dental practitioners; to advance scientific research, education and standards of practice in Hypnosis; and to advise others about the value, application, and ethical use of Hypnosis.
- The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis is the largest U.S. organization for health and mental health care professionals using clinical hypnosis.
Abuse Survivors
- Written by a survivor of childhood abuse, this article provides practical advice on how to recognize and deal with dental patients who may have suffered sexual, physical or emotional abuse in the past: Dental Phobia in Survivors of Sexual, Physical and Emotional Abuse (PDF file)
Gagging
- A collection of tips for helping people with gagging problems: How to manage with patients with a bad gag reflex
Sedation
- Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry – SAAD (UK)
- Dental Sedation Teachers Group (UK)
Patient Forms and Research Questionnaires
- Please Handle Me With Care Dental Patient Form: This patient form was developed by people with dental anxieties. It is designed to identify specific fears. Also useful for practice websites, so patients can complete the form prior to their appointment.
- Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale, Revised (DAS-R): Norman Corah’s Dental Questionnaire
- Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) – see www.st-andrews.ac.uk/dentalanxiety for further information.
- Reliability and validity of the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C+) in an Australian adult sample (Jason Armfield)
- “How do we measure dental fear and what are we measuring anyway?” by Jason M. Armfield (2010). A review of dental anxiety indices.
Suggest a Resource
To suggest a resource for inclusion on this page, please use the Contact Us Form. Suggested resources must be related to dental anxiety.
Books and DVDs
The following book and DVD comes highly recommended: “Handbook of Local Anesthesia by Stanley Malamed – 6th Ed. / 2012 and Malamed’s Local Anesthesia Administration DVD
Articles
- An article describing the reasons for failed local anaesthesia and how to overcome them: How to overcome failed local anaesthesia by J.G. Meechan (PDF file)
- A step-by-step account on how to procede if local anaesthesia fails. “Give your patients a ‘wow’ experience – don’t hurt them” by Josh Bernstein (PDF file)
- Information with photos on the Gow-Gates Block, Akinosi technique, intraosseous injections, periodontal ligament injections, anatomic variation, painless injections, reasons for incomplete anaesthesia and how to circumvent them: Local Anaesthetic Technique by David A. Isen
Videos
- Try before you buy: Malamed’s Local Anaesthesia videos on Youtube.
- Milestone Scientific‘s website provides videos on CompuDent/STA injection techniques in addition to product information.
Iatrosedation, Language and Communication
- Nathan Friedman’s classic (1967) paper on iatrosedation as a PDF download: Iatrosedation (PDF file)
- Lincoln Hirst shares his tips for communicating with nervous patients, giving many practical examples: Some thoughts on language and apprehensive patients (PDF download)
- Fraser Hendrie’s Top Tips for Treating Nervous Patients as a PDF download: Top Tips for Treating Nervous Patients (PDF download)
- Mike Gow’s paper describes how to use positive language and suggestion in your practice, and also gives an example of a positively framed patient leaflet following tooth removal: The Use of Positive Language in Dentistry (PDF file)
CBT
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for people with dental fear and anxiety: A toolkit: A unique collaboration between SAAD and the King’s College London Dental Institute Health Psychology Service has resulted in this guide to Cognitive Behavioural Techniques for people with dental fear and anxiety. The toolkit is aimed at dental healthcare professionals who wish to work with people with dental fear, combining effective and proven cognitive behavioural techniques with pharmacological management. Cost: £30 plus P+P.
Hypnosis
Articles
- Keeping an Open Mind (PDF file): Dentist Mike Gow explains some of the ways hypnotherapy can be used in day-to-day practice.
- Hypnosis at Work (PDF file): An introduction to the uses of hypnosis in pain control by Mike Gow.
Organisations
- The European Society of Hypnosis consists of 36 Constituent Societies from 17 different countries throughout Europe, including over 10,000 professionals from the fields of Medicine, Dentistry, Psychology and allied professions. This website will keep you updated with the newest developments in professional hypnosis and organisations in Europe.
- The British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis provides training of health professionals by health professionals in the clinical uses of hypnosis and is a resource for both health professionals and members of the public who are seeking information about hypnosis.
- The British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis Scotland (BSMDH Scotland) aims to encourage and promote excellence in the use of Hypnosis by registered Medical and Dental practitioners; to advance scientific research, education and standards of practice in Hypnosis; and to advise others about the value, application, and ethical use of Hypnosis.
- The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis is the largest U.S. organization for health and mental health care professionals using clinical hypnosis.
Abuse Survivors
- Written by a survivor of childhood abuse, this article provides practical advice on how to recognize and deal with dental patients who may have suffered sexual, physical or emotional abuse in the past: Dental Phobia in Survivors of Sexual, Physical and Emotional Abuse (PDF file)
Gagging
- A collection of tips for helping people with gagging problems: How to manage with patients with a bad gag reflex
Sedation
- Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry – SAAD (UK)
- Dental Sedation Teachers Group (UK)
Patient Forms and Research Questionnaires
- Please Handle Me With Care Dental Patient Form: This patient form was developed by people with dental anxieties. It is designed to identify specific fears. Also useful for practice websites, so patients can complete the form prior to their appointment.
- Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale, Revised (DAS-R): Norman Corah’s Dental Questionnaire
- Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) – see www.st-andrews.ac.uk/dentalanxiety for further information.
- Reliability and validity of the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C+) in an Australian adult sample (Jason Armfield)
- “How do we measure dental fear and what are we measuring anyway?” by Jason M. Armfield (2010). A review of dental anxiety indices.
Suggest a Resource
To suggest a resource for inclusion on this page, please use the Contact Us Form. Suggested resources must be related to dental anxiety.
