Model of the dentist-patient consultation in a clinic specializing in the treatment of dental phobic patients: a qualitative study

Abstract

Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with 5 dentists (3 male and 2 female) after first and second consultations with 15 newly enrolled dental phobic patients (2 male and 13 female) in a clinic specializing in the treatment of odontophobia. Analysis of the transcribed interviews was influenced by the principles of grounded theory. Five concepts/higher-order categories were grounded in the data: 1 core category: 'Relatedness, based on affective resonance and concordant roles' and 4 additional higher-order categories: 'the dental phobic patient's emotions'; 'the patient's verbal and non-verbal cues'; 'the dentist's role as a clinician: professional interpersonal skills'; and 'the dentist's role as a fellow-being: general interpersonal skills'. The model developed describes the dynamics of the dentist-patient interaction and has a theoretical application.