Dental Phobia
Don’t Let It Stop You From Having A Comfortable And Beautiful Smile.
Dental phobia is extremely common, and yet when you suffer from it yourself, it can feel like you’re the only person in the world absolutely paralysed with fear at the thought of visiting the dentist. How can other people just happily visit their local dentist every six months without a second thought?
Here at Abbey Dental Road we completely understand how you feel. We have successfully helped people in different places on the phobia spectrum, some with mild nerves about the dentist, some with extreme dental phobias. Our clinic in St John’s Wood has helped many dental phobic people get in that chair and get the treatment they deserve.
Our primary perspective on dental phobia is understanding that the reasons for it are different for everybody, and that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Everybody has a different reason, or a combination or reasons for feeling so afraid of the dentist. For some people, they don’t even know where their phobia started. Regardless of how a dental phobia starts, the fact is that it prevents a person from getting the oral health support that they deserve. So it is incredibly important to sensitively and compassionately treat a person for their phobia first, so that the appropriate oral care can follow.
More Than A Fear Of Pain
Most people who are phobic of the dentist are not just ‘worried’ about their dental visit. Dental fear or anxiety can come with a wide range of symptoms such as:
- Shaking
- Issues with breathing
- Nausea
- Lightheadedness or even fainting
- Loss of appetite
- Panic attacks
- Deep anxiety
A dental phobia can cause a wide range of symptoms that a person may experience just at the thought of going to the dentist. Often these symptoms are accompanied by a deep level of shame and embarrassment, exacerbated if the person’s oral health has deteriorated because they have avoided the dentist for so long. Worrying about what people think can often be an additional barrier preventing a person from even considering speaking to anybody about their problem. They worry about being judged, or that nobody will understand how afraid they are of the dentist.
What Abbey Road Dental Can Do To Help….
Luckily, the majority of people who find the bravery and courage to tackle their phobia find that the experience they have is so different to the experience they were afraid of.
On getting in touch with the NW8 surgery they find that the team have masses of sympathy for them, and everybody at the clinic has the training and expertise in dealing with dental phobic patients. Upon getting in touch you’re likely to find that you are one of many who feel afraid of the dentist. You’re not alone in your phobia and most importantly, you are able to be treated for it. Many people have felt how you do, and many have come through the other side and received the treatment they deserve, with the help of Abbey Road Dental.
Thinking about how to treat those with dental fear is a standard part of training for all professions within dentistry. We have a wealth of techniques, approaches and ideas to help patients feel more comfortable in a clinical setting.
Often we will tailor the approach to the person dependent on a specific sticking point they might have in regards to dentistry. Patients can be afraid of choking, afraid of dental instruments, needles, the smell of the dentist can bring back bad memories, or they may be afraid of pain.
In all instances our priority is building up trust with the patient so that there is a good basis for any level of treatment within the clinic.
To start this process we often recommend that once a patient has been in touch we organise a visit to the clinic with no pressure of a consultation. Sometimes being in the dental environment and seeing patients go in and out of appointments smiling and healthy can break those long-standing ideas you had that everybody going to the dentist was in pain afterwards.
If possible, a consultation can be part of your initial visit so that you can see what is in the dental surgery you can speak to the consultant and you can discuss your fears. The more that we know about your feelings and worries, the more we can tailor your treatment plan to suit your needs. We can do all kinds of things, like explaining everything we are doing, playing your favourite music whilst you are in the chair, doing an examination without tools, or even distracting you during treatment. There are also sedation options available for those who need that extra bit of help to get through their treatment.
A major part of what we do is letting patients know exactly how much more advanced dentistry is than it used to be. Some patients may not have been to the dentist in a decade and so have no idea that drills and dental tools are much less noisy, and are much more efficient and pain-free. All dentists, including the team at Abbey Road Dental, also put a lot of effort into ensuring that the reception and various treatment rooms are bright, hygienic and friendly.
Is It Time You Let Abbey Road Dental Help You Face Your Dental Phobia?
If you struggle with a dental phobia and you have avoided visiting the dentist for a long time, your oral health could be getting worse. It is so important for your health and well-being that you take the first step towards paying a visit to your local NW8 dentist. Maybe a friend calls us on your behalf, maybe you send an email, perhaps you’re brave enough to call yourself or pop in?
You can reach our friendly team on 02076241603 or get in touch through our online contact form. If you reach out to us with honesty about your fears and worries, we can help you get the help that you deserve. We have a wealth of experience helping dental phobics overcome their fear and we’re here to help you get the dental support that you deserve!
