No need to be down in the mouth, TV Licensing tells dentists

Many dentists across the UK have TVs in their reception areas, where people can relax before having treatment.

And for many, a visit to the dentist can be a stressful time – but there are a number of options open to anyone who finds themselves in a stressful situation to reduce distress and fear, such as listening to music, having a friend or relative with them, watching TV or programmes on iPlayer.

Professor Craig Jackson, Professor of Occupational Health Psychology and Head of the Psychology Department at Birmingham City University, said: “When people are anxious, they tend to perceive things around them as being more stressful than they really are, as well as having a lower threshold for discomfort or pain. This can manifest as acute stress in many individuals. Any environment that has exciting, varying and distracting properties, such as music, watching TV or even having a friend or relative present, can help reduce distress and fear. Stress reduction such as this can also make long term avoidance of that environment much less likely."