when I first came to Tennessee I was a
bit anxious
I didn't mean walk reach things I get
nervous Heidi doesn't she doesn't
particularly like it she doesn't mind
very best of all things it's going to be
a toothbrush yeah you're just gonna have
to brush but and but otherwise she's a
bit like my mouth I wouldn't say I'm
particularly anxious when I have a
check-up but when I have teeth taken out
or filling and I am anxious as part of a
community dental service our patients
are referred to us generally from
general dental practitioners who haven't
been able to provide the treatment for
one reason or another my patients I see
have generalized anxieties or more
specific anxieties and phobias and some
will have mental health diagnosis
learning disabilities or autism and
anxiety plays a part within that as well
sometimes a banana is in a bit of pain
jool on both sides we're not cheering
it's important to listen to the patient
make sure that our patient care is
patient centered and focused and give
them the support that they need to get
through the treatment that's been helped
me so that says you want to just wait
tonight how did you feel that went for
you today was that all right yeah not as
bad as you've got to be patient
excellent
the things that help me when I'm anxious
at the dentist is when the dental nurse
when I had my teeth taken out helped my
hand that made me feel better she was
just smiling locked in talking to me it
ought to mean everything not to wear a
pair of dark sunglasses and look up to
the stars that's what I enjoy before
they leave things to me it's really
important to have something like
Charlotte who actually understands
Heidi's needs and how difficult it can
be for both of those especially if she
needs to have
operation is a requirement just a
fill-in just put scissors ten years
there are some specific phobias that
patients will present with it's
important to try and work out exactly
which part of the procedure they're
nervous about and then we can go some
way to treating that there are a number
of different techniques we can use to
support the patient with this for
example a procedure called tell she'll
do work very well for patients with
specific phobias okay so this is my
special electric toothbrush let's have a
look on your thumb just to see how she
was explaining what she was gonna do
okay yeah she showed me like on my hand
how it was gonna feel on my teeth one
behavioral management technique that I
use which i think is quite important
it's giving the patient a feeling of
control and before we start treatment we
will plan start and stop saying so that
the patient knows at any points if they
want to stop the procedure they can do
that you just raise your hand I know you
need more me to start can you practice
that for me by practicing that and
making sure that the patient trusts and
believes that you will stop if they
raise the hand that goes a long way to
settling their anxieties and gives them
back a feeling of control okay yeah very
good I find it very satisfying to feel
that we've managed to help someone
successfully achieve the dental care the
things I like about going to the dentist
are there makes my teeth feel better
brilliant that's fantastic well done
Heidi likes getting a sticker afterwards
so especially if she's being good you
should come to the dentist and don't be
frightened you think it rotten teeth we
know that if we can get patients
positive experiences if they feel
empowered and have coping strategies
then hopefully they make one for the
rest of their life being able to accept
dental treatment successfully
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you