Being afraid of the dentist means different things to different people. Maybe it’s the thought that treatment will hurt. Or that the sounds and smells bring back memories of bad experiences as a child.

Dentists understand their patients’ fears and worries. In fact it’s one of the main reasons David retrained to become a dentist! – because if his past experiences. Being a Private Dental Practice, we have the luxury of being able to afford you as much time as you need. Our aim is to make dental treatment as stress free as possible. You can minimise and eventually overcome your fears, and become a loyal and happy patient.

fear-of-the-dentist-2

Some tips to ‘help’ with fear of the dentist..

If you are anxious, here are some tips and suggestions that may help:

  1. Visit us first to meet our Staff. See the place and take away some information.
  2. Let us know that you’re anxious, but more importantly WHY, so we can talk about this during your 1st exam.
  3. Try to book an appointment time early in the morning, so you have less time to dwell on it.
  4. The first appointment will simply be a check-up, there will be no treatment. Unless of course you’re in pain and want us to help!
  5. See this first exam as your chance to get to know us, and talk about your concerns. Beforehand, ask yourself WHY you fear the dentist, and discuss it with us.
  6. You can of course bring a friend or family member with you to your appointment. (hopefully one that doesn’t fear ‘the dentist’!). We’re happy for them to come in surgery, with you – should you so wish.
  7. We can agree a sign or gesture to indicate that you need a break or want to stop. It can be as simple as raising your hand, and will help you feel more in control.
  8. If you think it will help, start gradually with a say an exam and x-rays, then a clean and polish, and work up to more extensive treatment once you’ve built up trust and confidence with us. If you feel that this is just something you cannot manage, we can of course always refer you for treatment under Sedation.
  9. If sounds in surgery trigger your anxiety, by all means bring some music to listen to through earphones during your exam. It can help you relax and distract you.
  10. Finally, and one of the most important things, but often the most difficult – is to try to not pass on your fears and anxiety to your children. Their experiences, will in all likelihood, be vastly different from your ones in the past, and ones that may have prevented you from attending regularly and cared for.

Sedation

If however you’re EXTREMELY nervous, and find that you just can’t manage that step from exam to treatment under normal circumstances, we can simply carry out your check up and discuss what you need, then refer for treatment under sedation, so that you may have less of a fear of coming back to see us.

I.V. sedation is an option for most treatments, and involves a tiny injection into your hand or arm so that sedative drugs can be administered. IV sedation is particularly useful if that bad memory is associated with gas and air, and having a mask over the nose. The IV drugs won’t send you to sleep – you’ll be drowsy and able to talk – but they’ll calm and relax you so deeply you probably won’t remember much of what happened.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT