STORY: Avoiding Dentist

SCRIPT #525 SHOOT: 8/12/03

AIRDATE: Monday, September 29, 2003

Daybreak and Midday

DHC Master #18 Timecode: 25:15 There are an estimated 40 million dental

phobics in the U.S. Their fear

of dentistry can harm not just

health as well.

But many dentists are now trained

to help the fearful patient relax.

Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of

Dentistry has more in today’s

sovt: 1:46 Dental Health Check.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DENTAL TRAINING (VOICE-OVER)

SUPER: Dallas :02-07

Dentists in training today

learn not just about teeth but

about psychology of fearful patients.

SERGIO COMING IN DOOR They learn how to make patients

like Sergio Sierra comfortable in

SUPER: Fort Worth :11-16 a dental office.

SUPER: Sergio Sierrra (“Well basically, the last time I

Fearful Patient :18-22 went I had a bad experience with

the hygienist that I went to.”)

TWO-SHOT Sergio avoided going to the dentist for 8 years.

PROCEDURE He has periodontal or gum disease

that now requires a procedure

called scaling and root planning.

SERGIO (“Having gone so long, I knew

and felt it was time for me to go see

the dentist.”)

DR. BENDER His dentist, Dr. Amy Bender, takes

extra time to talk with Sergio and

give him anesthesia to make sure

he feels no pain.

Page 2

SUPER: Dr. Amy Bender (“We ask patients how can we

Sergio’s New Dentist :48-52 we make you more comfortable,

opening up that question. If there

is something that bothered them in the past, we always want to know about it

so that we try not to copy it. And then

we always try to make sure that we’re not doing anything that hurts. As long as you go slowly, you can get everything done that you need to get done in the right way.”)

MORE PROCEDURES Many new dentists and their staffs

welcome fearful patients to their office. They’ve learned techniques that

make the dental office a pleasant

experience.

(“And then if they know more information about what they are having done, then it is not as scary.”)

SERGIO (“Just the voice is very sweet and gentle. That makes it a lot more comforting.”)

ON CAMERA (STAND-UP CLOSE)

Super: Dr. Linda Niessen If you have been avoiding the dentist,

Baylor College of Dentistry ask around for a referral from a friend

1:27-1:32 or family member.

Go visit the office and get a feel for

the staff and the environment.

If you like what you see, make

an appointment for an examination.

For Baylor College of Dentistry,

Texas A&M System, I’m Dr. Linda

Niessen, Channel 8 News.