The Psychology of Dental Care

Emphasizes the sociological aspects of dentistry and the needs of patients who require particular forms of care, thereby helping the general practitioner to deal with nervous patients and improve communication skills.

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The oral health of the general population has improved substantially within the past decades. Overall, the incidence of caries and edentulousness has declined radically. As a result of this, many changes in dental practice and education will be needed within the professional lifetime of readers of this book. There will be a change from a restorative orientation to one in which greater attention will be given to high technological advances on the one hand, and to aspects of personal communication between dentists and patients on the other. This second edition has been written with the latter concerns in mind. Greater emphasis has been given to sociological aspects of dentistry and to the needs of patients who require particular forms of care, thereby helping the general dental practitioner to deal with nervous patients and improve communication skills. This edition has some specific advice for students. The authors have attempted to draw out the implications of sociology and psychology for the practice of dentistry and also included are appendices which should be helpful for readers who are studying for examinations or are considering doing research in their own right.