Behavioral Issues in Dentistry
Course #56803 - $45 -
- Participation Instructions
- Review the course material online or in print.
- Complete the course evaluation.
- Review your Transcript to view and print your Certificate of Completion. Your date of completion will be the date (Pacific Time) the course was electronically submitted for credit, with no exceptions. Partial credit is not available.
The practice of dentistry involves more than clinical procedures. Patients present with a diverse blend of emotions, needs, spirituality, and psychological perspectives that may not be tangible and measurable, but that are a major component in their ability to successfully undergo dental treatment. These factors can combine to influence the patient to seek or to avoid dental treatment. The members of the dental staff also have these components to their personalities, which can influence their interactions with patients and their ability to remain professionally engaged and to maintain optimal mental and physical health throughout their careers. Psychologic and behavioral problems can develop for both patients and members of the dental staff that can interfere with the ability to receive or provide dental treatment. This course will discuss some of the most common behavioral and psychologic issues that confront the patient and members of the dental staff, their potential solutions, coping mechanisms, and the harmful effects of the problems left untreated.
This course is designed for all dental professionals in all practice settings.
In dentistry, psychological and behavioral issues of patients and staff are a critical component in the ability to develop successful relationships and optimize care. The purpose of this course is to provide dental professionals with the information necessary to identify behavioral issues in their patients and themselves and to address these issues appropriately.
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Identify the characteristics of fear, anxiety, and phobias associated with dental treatment.
- Outline treatment modalities available for dental patients with anxiety or fear.
- Distinguish between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and describe the effects of each upon oral health.
- Discuss the basic concept of stress and its physiologic manifestations.
- Identify the ramifications of unresolved stress for patients and dental staff.
Mark J. Szarejko, DDS, FAGD, received his dental degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1985. He received fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry in 1994.
Contributing faculty, Mark J. Szarejko, DDS, FAGD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Sarah Campbell
The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare.
Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice.
It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
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The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages.
Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.