Nearly every dental assistant, hygienist, and team member Catherine Fettig, MSN, RN, has raised their hand when Fettig asks if they have worked with an anxious patient. That near-universal show of hands is the starting point for a conversation Fettig believes dentistry hasn't taken seriously enough.
In this episode of the Dental Assistant Nation podcast, host Kevin Henry sits down with Fettig, a nurse by training who has shifted her focus into the dental space, for a conversation about dental fear and anxiety; how it shows up in the operatory; and why recognizing it early changes outcomes for patients, teams, and practices alike.
Catherine Fettig, MSN, RN.
Fettig's approach starts before the patient ever sits in the chair. She recommends that practices build anxiety screening into their intake workflows, whether through a simple questionnaire or an anxiety scale, so teams know what they are walking into and can schedule accordingly. Anxious patients, she says, should not be left waiting in a reception area, where anticipation only compounds their stress.
The conversation also addresses a dimension of patient anxiety that gets far less attention: its effect on the team. Fettig describes compassion fatigue and the cumulative toll of repeatedly absorbing patients' fear and pain as a direct contributor to staff burnout and turnover. Her suggestions are practical rather than aspirational: team huddles, brief breaks between difficult appointments, and leadership that permits staff to step away when they need to.
Henry shares a personal example: A dental assistant in Tulsa, OK, who helped his mother, fearful since a childhood dental experience, simply by holding her hand during procedures. His mother still sees that practice today. Fettig uses the story to make a broader point about turnover: Even when the same team member is not available, a brief, genuine introduction such as, "Here is who I am and here is how I can help," can rebuild the psychological safety a returning patient needs.
Fettig also notes that dental anxiety is not always about the dentist. For some patients, the chair itself can resurface unrelated trauma, which is why recognizing behavioral and physiological signs matters as much as understanding what caused them.
Catherine Fettig can be reached at [email protected].
Listen to the full conversation below.
