Management of the nervous dental patient.

ways. The first is how he or she feels, very or only moderately frightened, this can be reported by the patient. The second is apparent in what the patient does, he or she comes for treatment or misses the appointment; accepts treatment with interruptions or without hindrance. The third way lies in physiological activity especially of the autonomic nervous system; perspiring, trembling, overbreathing, etc. All three manifestations of anxiety can be reliably observed and quantified in research investigations (Martin and Venables, 1980; Lindsay, 1977; Lindsay and Roberts, 1980). The three systems need not always covary. The patient who feels terrified of dentists avoids treatment until it becomes impossible to continue doing so. The clinician can reliably perceive how frightened his patients feel (Lindsay, 1977), probably basing his judgement on an Ad hoc mixture of the patient’s behaviour and physiological signs. -