Sociology and Psychology for the Dental Team

An introduction to the sociological and psychological aspects of dental practice. The excerpts demonstrate the book's focus on understanding the "human side" of dentistry by exploring how social and behavioral sciences inform clinical practice. Key themes include the influence of social class, poverty, gender, ethnicity, and aging on oral health and healthcare access. The text also covers psychological concepts relevant to dentistry, such as models of symptom perception, adherence and behavior change, stress and health, and dental anxiety and pain. Finally, it examines the historical and contemporary context of dental services and the importance of effective communication in patient-centered...