The Origins of Dental Fear: Providing Trauma-Informed Care for Anxious Patients
The Origins of Dental Fear: Providing Trauma-Informed Care for Anxious Patients
With Kandice Swarthout, RDH, LPC
Course Description:
For some patients, a history of trauma, anxiety disorders, or substance abuse can create a sense of real fear around a dental appointment. The relationship between the dental professional and patient is the key factor in what helps trauma survivors in recovery and building resilience to end the vicious cycle of dental fear. The fear of a dental appointment may leave the patient and clinician feeling exhausted and confused. Awareness of the neurobiological responses to trauma can help dental professionals provide optimum treatment with empathy and compassion. This course will discuss many non-dental related traumas that may cause the patient severe anxiety during a dental appointment. It will address treatment from a trauma- informed care mindset that will guide dental professionals to a deeper understanding of dental fear and management.
Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the participant will be able to:
- Understand how previous trauma affects patients in the dental office
- Learn the neurobiological responses to trauma
- List the key factors in creating a safe space and empowering patients that are victims of trauma
- Evaluate various isolation methods and choose the most effective techniques for different clinical scenarios.
- Discuss modes of patient communication and approaches that reduce retraumatization
- Learn the definition and key components to implementing trauma-informed care in the dental setting.
- Learn about treatment for trauma such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy and EMDR
About the Presenter:
Kandice Swarthout is a Registered Dental Hygienist and Licensed Professional Counselor with nearly 30 years of experience in dentistry and over a decade in mental health. She is trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy, a trauma-focused treatment modality, and serves as an educator in Texas, teaching community and research courses to future dental professionals.
A passionate advocate for human trafficking awareness, Kandice is the founder of Reclaim Smiles, a free dental day for survivors living in safe houses. She is an approved provider of human trafficking training for healthcare professionals through Texas Health and Human Services and speaks nationally on trauma- informed care, clinician wellness, and mental health in dentistry.
Kandice is the author of the Mental Health Spotlight column in Today’s RDH and was awarded the Sunstar Award of Distinction in 2025 for her research focused on trafficking survivors. She is an AGD PACE-approved provider of continuing education and the co-founder of Muffins & Mimosas Dental Study Club, offering innovative, relevant CE to dental professionals nationwide.
You can follow or contact Kandice on social media at The Counselor Hygienist. Instagram @thecounselorhygienist
Course Details:
Instructor: Kandice Swarthout, RDH, LPC
# of CE: 1
Location: Virtual
AGD Code: 750
Time Zones:
- PDT = 5:30 PM
- MDT = 6:30 PM
- CDT = 7:30 PM
- EDT = 8:30 PM
- AZ = 5:30 PM
The Origins of Dental Fear: Providing Trauma-Informed Care for Anxious Patients
With Kandice Swarthout, RDH, LPC
Course Description:
For some patients, a history of trauma, anxiety disorders, or substance abuse can create a sense of real fear around a dental appointment. The relationship between the dental professional and patient is the key factor in what helps trauma survivors in recovery and building resilience to end the vicious cycle of dental fear. The fear of a dental appointment may leave the patient and clinician feeling exhausted and confused. Awareness of the neurobiological responses to trauma can help dental professionals provide optimum treatment with empathy and compassion. This course will discuss many non-dental related traumas that may cause the patient severe anxiety during a dental appointment. It will address treatment from a trauma- informed care mindset that will guide dental professionals to a deeper understanding of dental fear and management.
Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the participant will be able to:
- Understand how previous trauma affects patients in the dental office
- Learn the neurobiological responses to trauma
- List the key factors in creating a safe space and empowering patients that are victims of trauma
- Evaluate various isolation methods and choose the most effective techniques for different clinical scenarios.
- Discuss modes of patient communication and approaches that reduce retraumatization
- Learn the definition and key components to implementing trauma-informed care in the dental setting.
- Learn about treatment for trauma such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy and EMDR
About the Presenter:
Kandice Swarthout is a Registered Dental Hygienist and Licensed Professional Counselor with nearly 30 years of experience in dentistry and over a decade in mental health. She is trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy, a trauma-focused treatment modality, and serves as an educator in Texas, teaching community and research courses to future dental professionals.
A passionate advocate for human trafficking awareness, Kandice is the founder of Reclaim Smiles, a free dental day for survivors living in safe houses. She is an approved provider of human trafficking training for healthcare professionals through Texas Health and Human Services and speaks nationally on trauma- informed care, clinician wellness, and mental health in dentistry.
Kandice is the author of the Mental Health Spotlight column in Today’s RDH and was awarded the Sunstar Award of Distinction in 2025 for her research focused on trafficking survivors. She is an AGD PACE-approved provider of continuing education and the co-founder of Muffins & Mimosas Dental Study Club, offering innovative, relevant CE to dental professionals nationwide.
You can follow or contact Kandice on social media at The Counselor Hygienist. Instagram @thecounselorhygienist
Course Details:
Instructor: Kandice Swarthout, RDH, LPC
# of CE: 1
Location: Virtual
AGD Code: 750
Time Zones:
- PDT = 5:30 PM
- MDT = 6:30 PM
- CDT = 7:30 PM
- EDT = 8:30 PM
- AZ = 5:30 PM
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