Dental Assistant Nation
Episode 455: Why Your Patients Are Anxious (And How To Fix It FAST!)
Anxious patients cancel more, delay treatment, and drain team energy fast. Kevin Henry talks with Catherine Fettig about why dental fear is so common and how past negative experiences shape patient behavior. Fear slows down appointments, leads to no shows, and creates added pressure for dental assistants who carry the emotional load chairside. Simple steps make a difference, from pre appointment screening and asking how patients feel about the visit, to offering choices that give patients a sense of control. Building trust through clear introductions, calm communication, and added time for anxious patients helps improve cooperation and case acceptance. The conversation also covers team health, with practical ideas like short resets after each patient, open huddles, tapping out when needed, and leadership support that gives assistants space to recharge and stay focused. Connect with Catherine Fettig Email: CatherineFettig@Dentaldollarsandcents.com Phone number: 503-314-7297 ------------------- Starting a career in dental assisting can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to figure out what you actually need to know before stepping into your first practice. The right preparation can help you walk in with more confidence and a stronger foundation. Dental Ready is built for aspiring dental assistants who want to prepare for the profession before taking that first step. It focuses on building the knowledge and confidence needed to enter a dental practice, while also preparing you for the people and teamwork that are part of the job. If you're getting ready to start your dental assisting career, visit https://dentalready.ai/ and use code DANation-DR1 to get 10% off. Dental Ready can help you build the knowledge and confidence you need to take your first step into the profession. ------------------- Dental professionals, work when and where it works for you. Kwikly makes it easy to find and book flexible dental shifts right from your phone. See shift details and pay upfront, choose the opportunities that fit your schedule, and enjoy the security of W-2 employment, with payroll, taxes, and insurance handled for you. More flexibility. Less hassle. Work on your terms. Find dental shifts with Kwikly: https://www.joinkwikly.com/ ------------------- Dental assistants play a powerful role in whether patients move forward with treatment. You are a key part of the patient journey, and having the right financial options can make all the difference. CareCredit is a health and wellness credit card that offers flexible financing options, so patients can pay over time for the care they want or need, subject to credit approval. When money isn’t the obstacle, patients say yes. Want to make CareCredit part of your practice’s offerings and strengthen case acceptance? Email me at kevin@kevinspeaksdental.com and let’s make it happen for your team. ------------------- If you work chairside, you know that good isolation and retraction can make a big difference in how smoothly a procedure goes. Keeping the field dry, maintaining visibility, and giving the clinician the access they need can help everyone work more efficiently. ISORETRACT is designed to support that process by providing isolation and retraction during dental and orthodontic procedures. It can be especially useful in practices handling orthodontics, clear aligner cases, Invisalign treatment, and cosmetic procedures where maintaining a clear, controlled working field is important. The goal is to make isolation easier for the clinical team while also helping create a better experience for the patient. Want to see what ISORETRACT could look like in your practice? Visit https://isoretract.com/ to learn more and see how ISORETRACT can help make isolation and retraction easier for your dental team.
