What every dentist needs to understand about trauma and dental anxiety

We hear from trauma-informed practitioner Ella McCrystal on why understanding trauma, mental health and human behaviour is becoming increasingly important for dental professionals. Ella shares her personal journey and explores what trauma really is – not just the events people go through, but how those experiences are stored, expressed and carried through the body over time. She explains why trauma so often shows up in dentistry, from dental anxiety and avoidance to communication challenges, stress within teams and the wider pressures facing the profession. A turning point came when Ella realised that many systems still treat symptoms rather than people, leading her to develop a more personalised, body-led approach that reflects the complexity of trauma and recovery. Topics include: Understanding what trauma actually is Why dental anxiety is often about more than dentistry The link between stress, burnout and patient communication Why mental health education needs to go deeper How more holistic care could benefit both patients and professionals.