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."
Dental practices need a TV Licence if customers or staff watch live TV programmes or download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer – whether on a TV, tablet, computer or any other type of equipment.
If the premises do not have a licence then the business risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000. Customers watching live TV on their own devices when out and about, however, are covered by their home licence.
Mark Whitehouse, spokesperson for TV Licensing, said: "We're really keen that all businesses, whatever their sector, stay on the right side of the law. Some dentists show live TV programmes in their reception to entertain patients while they're waiting to be seen, but if people are going to be watching programmes in dental surgeries as they're shown on TV, then the premises needs to be licensed."
Dentists and other business owners can buy a licence using a range of methods. You can find out if you need a licence, buy one or tell us if your details have changed by visiting www.tvlicensing.co.uk/businessinfo or by calling the TV Licensing businesses team on 0300 790 6112.
Your licence for your home address covers you to watch live TV on any equipment away from your address as long as it is powered by batteries. If you plug it in to the mains, you need to be covered by a licence at the place you are using it.