[Anxiety management of dental patients].

The treatment of dentally anxious patients demands a behavioral approach, supported, if necessary, by pharmacological means. First of all coping is described. Next an overview is presented of the most common anxiety-reducing methods. To this goal the dentist has at his disposal: information, successive approximation, distraction and relaxation. Biofeed-back does not appear to be used. The systematic desensitisation, the deconditioning of dental anxiety, is dealt with separately, because this technique requires the aid of a psychologist.