Rural dentists can face similar problems to their city colleagues

More than 100 dentists from countryside areas will use a conference in Powys to explore how to deal with intimidating patients and the pressures of the job.

The conference at Gregynog will recognise that dentistry can be stressful for both staff and patients, said organiser Charles Vaughan-Jones.

The British Dental Association said violence was an increasing problem.

We are recognising that - surprise, surprise - it's not just patients who get anxious, but everyone Dr Charles Vaughan-Jones

Dr Vaughan-Jones said professionals dealing with the public such as police and paramedics faced everything from assault to low-level aggression, and dentists in rural areas were no exception.

"This year's conference is about the anxieties and feelings of the dental team and the patients and what your legal rights are if this tips into aggression," he said.

"We are recognising that - surprise, surprise - it's not just patients who get anxious, but everyone."

Fears and phobias

Event speakers will include hypnotherapists Anthony Asquith and Andrew Cain, of London-based Fear Free Dentistry, who use techniques to deal with fears and phobias.

People queued to register with a new dentist in Machynlleth

The conference is not, however, scheduled to discuss the shortage of dentists - and particularly in rural areas - which has been frequently in the headlines.

Dr Vaughan-Jones said the aim was instead to discuss day-to-day concerns of the profession.

A shortage of NHS dentists in rural Wales in particular has forced some patients to travel far for treatment. Hundreds of people have also queued in some towns for hours to secure a place on NHS dentists' lists.

The Welsh Assembly Government has also announced an extra �5m to help keep dentists in the NHS.

Safety concerns

The British Dental Association said it took the issue of violence very seriously.

"Dentists and their staff have the right to a working environment free of intimidation where they can treat patients without concerns about their safety," said a spokesman.

The conference is hosted by the Welsh Rural Postgraduate Unit, a partnership between the Institute of Rural Health and Cardiff University's School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education.

Other speakers include Antony Townsend, chief executive of the General Dental Council, and Pam Swain, chief executive of the British Association of Dental Nurses.