Psychologists can also help the dental team to communicate and interact more effectively with patients and each other. At the same time these psychologists are helping patients, they're also helping their practices by moving beyond the reach of managed care. Helping patients overcome their fear of dentistry is the most obvious overlap between psychology and dentistry, says Peltier. Dental procedures can be uncomfortable, he admits, and negative media images of dentists don't help. Nor do childhood memories of old-school dentists, who often did things like hold their hands over the noses and mouths of unruly children until they settled down.
Some people just hate the loss of control that occurs during dental procedures.
Being afraid to go to the dentist is more typical than not. For some, says Peltier, fear crosses the line into phobias that threaten not only patients' oral health but their breath, self-esteem and even eating habits. With recent reports linking gum and heart disease, ignoring oral health could even be life-threatening. Teaching future dentists how to keep patients free from fear occupies the bulk of Peltier's time. Slow down and give patients as much control as possible.