What we offer

The Dental Psychology Service has developed a training programme to support dental teams in integrating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques into the management of dental anxiety and dental phobia.

Drawing on over 15 years of clinical experience and research, the programme provides healthcare professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to assess patients with dental anxiety, deliver CBT-informed interventions, and develop services that reduce reliance on pharmacological approaches such as conscious sedation and general anaesthesia.

The training is based on the model developed by the Dental Psychology Service at Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, the first dedicated NHS service for the management of dental phobia.

Participants learn how to:

• Assess patients to determine their suitability for CBT-based interventions. 
• Develop individualised treatment plans based on patient assessment. 
• Deliver cognitive and behavioural techniques for managing dental anxiety. 
• Recognise common challenges encountered during treatment. 
• Understand the importance of clinical supervision. 
• Develop the infrastructure required to establish a dental anxiety service. 

This training is intended for:

• Dentists 
• Dental hygienists and therapists 
• Dental nurses 
• Oral health educators 
• Clinical psychologists 
• Health psychologists 
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapists 
• Other healthcare professionals involved in managing patients with dental anxiety 

The programme combines a range of interactive learning methods, including:

• Lectures 
• Demonstrations 
• Role play 
• Small group discussions 
• Case-based learning 
• Independent study between sessions 

Participants also receive a comprehensive set of clinical resources, including assessment materials, worksheets, patient information leaflets, videos, photographs and audio resources.