How to treat nervous patients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Centreville, Virginia, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) January 2, 2012 -- As a dentist or a nurse, we always have some patients who are nervous. But how to treat such patients? Here are some tips
1. The longest walk. It is true that you only get one chance to make a good first impression. There are many ways of doing this including simply walking out to your waiting room, introducing yourself to your patient and making polite chat on the way to the surgery.

2. Be on time. This is a real old chestnut in dentistry, we all know that running exactly to time is exceedingly difficult but arriving for a first appointment and having to sit around for ages waiting is every nervous patient’s nightmare.
3. Listen carefully. You really need to listen harder than ever before to the patient as they tell you their story, in it will be all the clues you need to help them, their fears, their triggers, and what things you need to find a way around to stop from scaring them half to death. By asking questions you are showing that you are interested in what the patient has to say and as such are more likely to act on it.

4. Expectation. It is important to develop a basis on which you and your patient can work together. Right up front I think it is important to tell patients that if you work together in a spirit of mutual co-operation then it is highly likely that you will be able to help them.
5. Attention. Nervous patients need active care and attention 100% of the time. Sometimes, they just stare at you, or even some dental equipment in your office for a long time, and as the dentist you are dealing with what treatment you are doing for the patient, what materials you need etc and managing your patients emotional state too. Recognise that it is difficult to give 100% of your attention 100% of the time. Make it easy on yourself by making sure that everything is set up in advance and that your nurse is totally supportive and on board with helping nervous patients.

6. Talk. Some patients like to know nothing about what you are doing; others want to know every little step. Either way you have got to talk, communication is at the very heart of helping the nervous patient relax and feel ok with the situation. You can talk about anything with your patients, such as food, story or introduce any dental supply in your office and also the history of some dental equipment . Choose your words really carefully, reframe any part of the process that you know will stress them out. E. g. Anaesthetic is not injected, we simply let it soak in r—e—a—-l—l—y slowly – sounds a heck of a lot less threatening and if it is pain free then it will boost the patient’s confidence in your skills. If the patient does not want to know anything about the technicalities that is fine, but make sure you still chat to them throughout.
In a word, I firmly believe you can treat your nervous patient well.
Resource from: www.izidental.com

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