Help with your fears and concerns

Here at the Dental Centre we are well aware of how many people suffer with dental phobia. We therefore take any fears seriously and deal with nervous patients sensitively.

Many people suffer from dental phobia. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds and there are many reasons why people suffer from this:

• Bad experiences in the past
• Fear of possible pain during treatment
• Other people making remarks about their past dental experiences
• Not being in control of the situation when in the dental chair
• Dentists receiving ‘bad press’

For some people their phobia is so great that they do not go to the dentist until they have severe toothache. This may result in deterioration of their dental condition to the extent that extraction remains the only treatment option.

Generally, someone who only attends when in severe pain may also have other tooth decay and gum disease problems that they have been unaware of. By not having regular check-ups, it can mean that simple treatments are no longer an option to treat their problems.

Having regular check-ups enables the dentist to treat any problems that may arise at an early stage, keeping the treatment as simple and minimal as possible.

Regular check-ups are also important as not only do dentists check for tooth decay and gum disease, they also screen for mouth cancers. So a trip to the dentist could save your life!

Teeth play an important part in our appearance. A nice smile can boost your confidence, whereas a mouth full of decayed or missing teeth can lead to low self esteem, loss of confidence and bad breath. Regular visits to the dentist will help you to keep a healthy and happy smile.

What can you do to help overcome your fear?

• Be open about your fears – let the dental receptionist know this when booking an appointment so that the dentist will be aware of this at your appointment.
• Take a friend or family member with you to the appointment. They can be there to give you support.
• Discuss your worries with the dentist, letting them know about any specific concerns.
• Ask questions about any treatments or procedures that you may be in need of.
• Find out if there are alternative treatments available and whether treatment under ‘conscious sedation’ might be appropriate for you.
• Try distraction techniques for example listening to music on a personal stereo.

Dentistry has evolved. Treatments are constantly changing and new technologies can make these quicker, easier and less invasive.

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