Going to the dentist is one of the most common phobias.
Even the NHS acknowledges that many people suffer from anxiety about going to see their dentist.
Although we understand many of these worries are deep-rooted, at The Perfect Smile we aim to create a dentist-patient dynamic that alleviates rather than increases these anxieties.
Many people have had traumatising experiences at their dentists, maybe they experienced a lot of pain because they hadn’t received the right amount of anaesthetic before a procedure, or maybe they couldn’t breathe when their dentist was using tools in their mouth.
The key to positive patient-dentist relationships is: communication
At The Perfect Smile, we believe that one of our most useful tools to avoid these experiences for our patients is: communication. We create an open dialogue, from the consultation prior to treatment at stage one to the check-up appointments post-treatment.
This is your smile, and you have almost full control over how your smile will look (dependent on the health condition of your teeth and also our abilities).
If there is something which causes you to worry or anxiety, then as your dentists, we want you to be able to fully communicate with us how you are feeling and what you need to make your experience more pleasant, or simply less anxiety-inducing.
We can also help you deal with your dental phobias with oral sedation.
Read more of our tips on how to overcome dental phobias.
Do you have a phobia of needles?
For some people, it is not the fear of feeling claustrophobic when there are tools in their mouth, but the actual idea of being around these tools, that causes anxiety.
It is estimated that one in four people in the UK suffers from aichmophobia, the fear of needles, which obviously makes going to the dentist an issue.
Dentists use local anaesthetic by injecting it directly into the area they want to numb. … Dentists inject local aesthetics through a thin needle, usually after applying a topical anaesthetic to the area.
The patient seldom, if ever, feels pain from the prick of the needle used for the injection.
Reassuring those who suffer from needle phobias
- With all of this in mind, how can doctors and other medical professionals reassure patients who are suffering from a severe fear of needles?
- Aside from telling patients to breathe deeply, talking to them to keep them distracted and making sure they are as comfortable as possible when having an injection.
- Along with this, to reassure patients more, doctors may want to demonstrate to patients how they safely dispose of needles following the injection.
- This can help patients feel more comfortable knowing that the practice is sticking to appropriate hygiene procedures.
- Meanwhile, allowing the patient the space to discuss any of their worries and concerns can help make the experience easier and more straightforward for both patient and dentist.