The March issue of the CDA Journal covers the psychology of the dentistry.

Listening to Patients
Being able to listen to patients is a basic and necessary tool in any helping profession. In this article, active and passive listening are discussed and broken down into several skills which can be learned and practiced in order to be a more effective listener. 
Harold L. Pruett, PhD

The Difficult Patient: A Psychodynamic Perspective
This paper describes a psychodynamic model that pictures the dentist-patient relationship as a two-way interaction that involves unconscious processes.
Craig D. Woods, DDS, MA

The Impact of Changing Parenting Styles on the Advancement of Pediatric Oral Health
It is generally understood that behavior management plays a significant role in the delivery of dental care to the child patient. This paper reviews recent changes in parenting styles that have impacted the nature of oral health care in the child patient.
Clarice S. Law, DMD, MS

Diagnostic and Treatment Challenges in Occlusal Dysesthesia: The Dental Patient with Somatoform Disorder
What is somatoform disorder? What is its etiology? What can be done to treat patients with somatoform disorder? This paper provides the dental practitioner with guidelines to address these questions.
John L. Reeves II, PhD, MSCP, and Robert L. Merrill DDS, MS

Evaluating Psychosocial Function in Elderly Dental Patients
Comprehensive dental care for older adults includes an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the psychosocial changes with age that can influence oral health care, including emotional functioning, anxiety, depression, cognitive functioning, alcohol and substance use, social functioning, social support, and elder abuse and neglect. A case vignette in this article highlights the contribution of psychosocial functional assessment to oral health care treatment of elderly patients.
Melanie Gironda, PhD, MSW

The Editor/
Dental Association Diversity
By Alan L. Felsenfeld, DDS

Impressions/
Young Smokers Run Higher Risk for Developing Asthma Later in Life

Dr. Bob/
Tea and (Not Much) Sympathy
By Robert E. Horseman, DDS

Letter/
Praise for Article on Prions

Sessions/
Spring Schedule