Nervous Patients
Being ‘afraid of
the dentist’ may mean different things to different people. Some
people have specific fears about actual areas of treatment or
pain, others don’t like the thought of being out of control,
some people find the sounds and smells upsetting and others
worry about stories they have heard from friends, family and
colleagues. The good news is that Sheen Dental understands their
patients’ fears and can do a great deal to make dental treatment
an acceptable, normal part of life.
The common fears that people
experience and how we can assist are listed below:
Fear of gagging
A fear of gagging is very common and sometimes people are embarrassed about it – please don't feel silly – many people share this problem. We understand your problem and have various techniques that can help.
For example we use special rinses and distraction techniques to stop the gagging reflex before it even starts. We may also alter the position of the chair or use a rubber dam that stops liquid going into your mouth.
Fear of Drilling
This is a very common fear and we find that the following can really help:
We try to make sure that there is never any pain whatsoever when we drill by numbing the tooth first.
However if you feel any discomfort at all we want you to let us know as soon as possible - even if it is only a very slight twinge. This is important so that we can assess what is going on – sometimes feeling a slight twinge tells us that you need a bit more anaesthetic.
To get us to stop when we have already started treatment –just put your hand up. If you do this we will stop straight away!
Fear of needles or injections
We use techniques when giving injections to make them as gentle as possible. In fact, most patients do not feel anything at all.
Before an injection we use a surface anaesthetic gel. This numbs the area first. We try very hard to ensure that there is no need for you to see the needle let alone feel it.
We sometimes use the Wand, which is a revolutionary system that can give pain free injections, and are one of a few practices in the UK trained to use it.
Fear of not being in control
You are in control at all times. You don't even have to sit in the chair on the first visit. We will explain all treatment to you stage by stage and ensure that you understand. If at anytime during treatment you want a break, just raise your hand and we will stop immediately. If you feel claustrophobic we will stop and you can sit or stand up. If at any point you just want us to stop for no particular reason – that is OK as well!
Relaxation techniques
In addition, we offer our clients the following relaxation techniques:
- Sedation
- Hypnotherapy
- Music Therapy