Dentistry often evokes a lot of emotion in people. This might be seen in the passion that dentists and their teams have to improve public health, or the wholehearted gratefulness that patients experience after their dentist has changed their life for the better. Of course, there can be some less positive emotions at times as well, especially when it comes to professionals under significant pressure. For many patients – over half the population in fact[i] – feelings of anxiety and fear are associated with a visit to the dental practice as well, which can impact the regularity of their attendance and their oral health-related quality of life.[ii] Helping these patients to regulate and alleviate their concerns is important and involves creating the right physical environment in which to deliver their dental care.
Where does the fear come from?
Dental anxiety can develop for a number of reasons and it often has a complex aetiology. For many individuals, the fear stems from traumatic previous experiences in the dental practice, whether as children or earlier on in their adulthood. Dental anxiety can also be a learned behaviour from parents, with education level and personal traits impacting a patient’s risk of developing dental fear.[iii]
This highlights the importance of effective communication with affected patients, giving them an opportunity to share their concerns without judgement. To optimise this exchange, it’s vital to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere within the practice, to treat them with respect and dignity and to really listen to what they say. It’s essential that these patients feel validated, cared for and supported by a clinician who is genuinely interested in making the dental experience as pleasant as possible.[iv]
In the practice, nervous patients may be triggered by a number of physical aspects too, including the sounds, smells and sights of the practice.[v] The combat these, the dental team may consider using headphones and music to calm patients in the chair, and installing fragrance solutions throughout the practice. When it comes to the aesthetic of the practice and making the physical environment more appealing, there are several areas to explore.
Colour me calm
The physical environment can also have a significant impact on patients’ emotions and behavioural responses. For instance, the décor can instantly create or destroy the atmosphere within a room thanks to colour psychology. Research in this field has shown that certain colours evoke specific feelings and emotions in the majority of individuals – green is often linked to nature, growth and freshness; blue with sympathy, compassion and warmth; orange with sunshine and happiness.[vi] A study in 2020[vii] looked at this in more detail and found red is associated with anger or love, yellow with joy, brown with disgust, grey disappointment and black fear and contempt. So, choose your colour scheme wisely when it comes to decorating your practice, particularly with nervous patients in mind.
Bringing the outside in
Interior design concepts like biophilic design may further help to reduce anxiety and promote recovery from stress among patients visiting the practice.[viii] This involves incorporating elements of nature into the indoor environment, by adding plants or with views to the outdoors through strategically placed windows. In addition, the choice of materials within a space can help to reduce people’s stress levels, with glass associated with fewer feelings of isolation and enhanced relaxation compared to metal and even wood in some instances.[ix]
Comfort and style
Another feature to think about when creating the best possible physical environment for nervous patients is ergonomics. A layout and design that facilitates patient comfort and makes their journey through the practice as simple and pleasant as possible is essential. The dental equipment selected can also play a role here, impacting the efficiency of patients’ treatment experience.
For expert support in designing, installing and maintaining a new practice for years to come, turn to RPA Dental. Their team has decades of experience in tailoring surgery design for the benefit of patients and professionals alike, utilising their stellar knowledge of dental specific regulations and general design concepts to help you create a stunning practice you will be proud of. Known for exceptional customer service, they will help you select the right dental equipment, cabinetry and finishings for your business, and then look after them with long-term servicing and support.
Facilitating access
It’s important that all patients feel able to access the essential dental care they need, including those that suffer with dental fear or anxiety. There is an array of steps that a dental practice can take to create a more welcoming and comfortable environment for these individuals.
For more detail about the solutions and services available from RPA Dental, please visit www.dental-equipment.co.uk, call 08000 933 975 or email info@rpadental.net
Author: Adam Shaw
My name is Adam Shaw, and I am the sales Director here at RPA Dental ltd. Married to my wife Michelle and with two teenage boys, weekends are mostly taken up with their sporting activities and social diaries.
Having started life as an apprentice engineer with RPA Dental some 24 years ago, I have seen the Dental industry change and evolve considerably since first starting with the company.
At 16, working as an engineer I attended college one day a week and after a four-year period completed my qualification in electrical and mechanical engineering. From here I spent 5 years in the service department until gaining promotion to a senior status, responsible for managing the team, running my own installation projects and keeping quality levels to a high standard.
Coming from technical background allowed me to understand the equipment specifications and fundamental surgery requirements in its entirety and offered the base line on which to move over to my commercial role in 2011.
Our emphasis has always been on service and support to our clients, and this has continued with our holistic approach to designing surgeries and assisting in an optimum workflow with our valued customers.
My role within the business now is to offer our clients the help and support required on various levels dependant on their individual needs, whilst working with our manufacturing partners to ensure our portfolio brings a complete and extensive offering.
[i] Dentalphobia.co.uk. The #1 resource on dental phobia. Are you afraid of the dentist? https://www.dentalphobia.co.uk/ [Accessed August 2024]
[ii] Avramova, Nadya. (2022). Dental fear, anxiety, and phobia; causes, diagnostic criteria and the medical and social impact. Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences. 9. 202-208. 10.22543/2392-7674.1348.
[iii] Beaton L, Freeman R, Humphris G. Why are people afraid of the dentist? Observations and explanations. Med Princ Pract. 2014;23(4):295-301. doi: 10.1159/000357223. Epub 2013 Dec 20. PMID: 24356305; PMCID: PMC5586885.
[iv] Stubbe DE. Alleviating Anxiety: Optimizing Communication With the Anxious Patient. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2017 Apr;15(2):182-184. doi: 10.1176/appi.focus.20170001. Epub 2017 Apr 6. PMID: 31975850; PMCID: PMC6526974.
[v] Taqi, M., Zaidi, S.J.A., Javaid, J. et al. Patient perceptions and experiences of dental fear of different dental specialties: a mixed-method study. BMC Oral Health 23, 884 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-023-03626-3
[vi] Colorpsychology.org. Color Psychology. https://www.colorpsychology.org/ [Accessed August 2024]
[vii] Jonauskaite D, Parraga CA, Quiblier M, Mohr C. Feeling Blue or Seeing Red? Similar Patterns of Emotion Associations With Colour Patches and Colour Terms. Iperception. 2020 Feb 2;11(1):2041669520902484. doi: 10.1177/2041669520902484. PMID: 32117561; PMCID: PMC7027086.
[viii] Yin, Jie & Yuan, Jing & Arfaei, Nastaran & Catalano, Paul & Allen, Joseph & Spengler, Jack. (2019). Effects of biophilic indoor environment on stress and anxiety recovery: A between-subjects experiment in virtual reality. Environment international. 136. 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105427.
[ix] Zhao J, Nagai Y, Gao W, Shen T, Fan Y. The Effects of Interior Materials on the Restorativeness of Home Environments. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jul 14;20(14):6364. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20146364. PMID: 37510596; PMCID: PMC10379609.
