Dental Anxiety: Strategies and Tools for Patient-Centered Care

Dental anxiety remains a persistent and often overlooked barrier to oral health care. It influences whether patients seek treatment, return for follow-up or perform consistent preventive care. Providers and care teams see the impacts of anxiety on clinical outcomes, workflow efficiency and long-term patient relationships.

Grounded in research and practical application, our new webinar equips oral health professionals with evidence-based, practical strategies to recognize, understand and effectively respond to dental anxiety across diverse patient populations. Discover how past experiences, cultural context and trust in health systems all shape patient behavior, as well as what care teams can do.

More supportive environments can strengthen patient trust and improve engagement and outcomes. Gain actionable tools that can be immediately applied in clinical, educational and community settings. Learn how to turn moments of anxiety into opportunities for empathy-driven communication, connection and better care.

Learning Outcomes:

• Recognize and assess signs of dental anxiety and better understand the broader context of anxiety with special focus on underserved populations.
• Apply patient-centered communication and anxiety-reduction strategies to improve patient comfort, strengthen trust and enhance adherence to care.
• Implement team-based and environmental changes to foster a more calming, supportive patient experience across clinical and community settings.

Presented in partnership with the CDA Foundation and National Dental Association (NDA).