“I Hate the Dentist”: Turning Anxiety Into Trust in the Hygiene Chair

Dental anxiety is one of the biggest barriers to oral healthcare — and as dental hygienists, we see it every single day.In this episode of Scaling the Truth, Alicia takes a deeper, more personal look at what it really means to care for anxious patients through a trauma-informed lens. From emotional safety and shame reduction to practical chairside strategies and communication shifts, this conversation explores how small moments of compassion can completely change a patient’s experience in the dental chair.This episode is a little different than previous conversations. It’s slower, more reflective, and focused on the human side of dental hygiene — because trust matters just as much as clinical care.Topics include:Trauma-informed dental hygiene careDental anxiety and fearCommunication strategies for anxious patientsEmotional safety in healthcareShame and avoidance in dentistryPractical chairside comfort techniquesThe emotional realities of hygiene practiceIf you’ve ever had a patient say:“I hate coming to the dentist…”This episode is for you.Submit your story or topic ideas here:Scaling the Truth Submission FormEmail:[email protected]#DentalHygiene #TraumaInformedCare #DentalAnxiety #ScalingTheTruth #RDH #DentalPodcast #PatientCare #DentalProfessionals #HygieneUnfiltered #OralHealth