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Understanding Dental Anxiety: Screening, Communication, and Pharmacologic Pathways by Dr. Carmelina d'Arro

Understanding Dental Anxiety: Screening, Communication, and Pharmacologic Pathways by Dr. Carmelina d'Arro

10/3/2026 9:38:00 PM   |   Comments: 0   |   Views: 51

https://www.dentaltown.com/onlinece/details/1260/understanding-dental-anxiety-screening-communication-and-pharmacologic-pathways

Understanding Dental Anxiety: Screening, Communication, and Pharmacologic Pathways

by Dr. Carmelina d'Arro


Patients judge the quality of their care using nontechnical criteria, in particular, their sense of trust and safety with their dental professional. Research shows that dental anxiety in US is very common and possibly increasing. Unfortunately, patients don’t volunteer their dental anxiety, and professionals are not good at rating it. Therefore, a proper screening for dental anxiety and a tailored approach to treatment is key to success. We will discuss several practical, easy ways to screen for dental anxiety; the key communication skills needed to address the anxiety before and during procedures; and some pharmacologic approaches to managing it. A subsequent course will discuss the intimate relationship between anxiety and pain as well as a host of interventions—mostly non-pharmacologic—to ensure patient comfort and your success. 


Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
  • Identify the most common factors that contribute to dental anxiety

  • Conduct verbal and written screenings for dental anxiety

  • Demonstrate communication skills that build trust

  • Apply strategies during procedures to communicate safety and reassure

  • Describe pharmacologic options for managing dental anxiety

Dr. Carmelina D’Arro is a seasoned public health dentist, educator, and award-winning author in Wilmington, Delaware where she teaches general practice residents and dental hygiene students. She is also a qualified teacher of the evidence-based curriculum, Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Dr. D’Arro’s areas of special interest include provider wellness, the doctor-patient relationship, and trauma-sensitive care. She has lectured on mindfulness and patient-centered care in the US and Canada. Her most recent work, a text and video collection entitled The Mindful Health Care Professional: A Path to Provider Wellness and Patient-centered Care, features mindfulness for self-care and patient care; communication skills before, during, and after procedures; and management of procedural pain and anxiety. This work was recently recognized by the Association of American Publishers with the 2025 Award for Excellence in Biological and Life Sciences.
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