How to overcome a fear of going to the dentist

If you experience anxiety or even fear when you go to the dentist, you are not alone. Research across different countries around the world show up to 20% of people are scared of going to see the dentist! At Green Valley Dental, we want all of our patients to feel comfortable and safe at their dental appointments, and so this article will aim to dispel some of the stigma around why people might fear coming to see the dentist, and how we can help patients feel comfortable in their appointments!

We had one of our dentists recount a story of a recent patient who was initially fearful of coming to see us:

“Recently I saw a patient who crying when he found out he was going to the dentist. He was a teenager and had a very severe gag reflex. His mother told me that last time he went to the dentist they only managed to clean a single tooth in the span of 30 minutes.”

“Over the course of four appointments, we were able to clean all his teeth, and 6 months later we were able to clean them all in one appointment. We tailored treatment to him, making sure he was comfortable at every stage of the appointments, and doing our best to calm him down and help him relax.”

“After the first four appointments, he was a lot more comfortable with what we were doing, and his next regular cleaning went a lot more smoothly!”


If you are worried or anxious about coming to see the dentist, never fear! There are options available to help you get over the bump and feel comfortable about your appointment!

 Firstly, at Green Valley Dental, we offer local anaesthetic and IV sedation for all of our dental operations. This will make the experience more comfortable for you by relaxing you or completely putting you to sleep for the duration of the appointment. Our friendly staff can talk you through the whole thing, to make sure you feel comfortable and secure!

If you are worried about a dental operation, it is a good idea to book a consultation with the dentist first. A consultation is a low-stress meeting where no serious work gets done, which will help you get to know the dentist and feel comfortable around them. We can book longer appointments for patients experiencing fear, so that we can take our time and fully explain what is happening throughout the duration of the appointment. This means we can also take breaks to allow you to compose yourself and relax.

It is also helpful for some patients to distract themselves during their dental appointments. Great ways to do this are by focusing on a specific area on the wall or roof, or to bring earphones and listen to music during your appointment.

Above all else, one of the best ways to overcome a fear of the dentist is to come in regularly! Patients who come to see us at Green Valley Dental more regularly are much less like to be afraid of their appointments. All our friendly staff are more than willing to help you through your time at our practice if you are experiencing fear or anxiety. If you are ever feeling worried, nervous or scared during your time with Green Valley Dental, just speak up and we will be glad to help out!

 Call us today on 02 9825 0092 or visit our website to book your free consultation!

Comments

  1. Amy Watson5 January 2019 at 05:15

    Best Discount Dental Plans available. Sign up for a dental discount plan and save up to 60% on dental procedures like teeth cleaning, extractions, crowns, bridges, dentures, braces, and more.

    ReplyDelete
  2. David Rowland29 March 2019 at 05:16

    I remember when I’m at the dentist waiting room I’m terrified of the dentist I’m on the verge of crying

    ReplyDelete

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