Nervous Patients

At the Charlbury Dental Practice, we have built our reputation on putting nervous patients at ease.

We know that having dental treatment can be nerve-wracking and so helping nervous patients build confidence is a priority for the whole dental care team.  In some cases, previous traumatic dental treatments may lead to anxiety, fear or even phobia. These might include:

• Negative childhood experiences.
• Feeling out of control.
• Unsympathetic dentists.
• A fear of the unknown.
• Embarrassment about the condition of teeth and gums.
• A fear of dental instruments, noise or smells.

Missing dental appointments or putting off treatments can lead to neglected teeth, poor oral health and sometimes toothache and dental pain.  We are here to help you overcome issues of dental anxiety and optimise your oral health.

I am nervous about having dental treatment. How can you help?

• Communicating your fears and concerns. You can be assured that we are good listeners and are always attentive to your concerns. If you would like to you can book a time to come and meet us informally before having a check-up.
• Full explanation of the procedures involved. We will give you as much or as little information about your dental treatment as you need. Often step-by-step, non-technical explanations of a procedure can be reassuring and relieve anxiety.
• Relaxation and distraction techniques. We are able to offer a range of relaxation and calming techniques, including relaxing music and oils to mask any clinical smells.
• Pain-free anaesthetic technique. Prior to administering the anaesthetic, your dentist can apply a numbing gel (topical anaesthetic) to your gums. We can also use a local anaesthetic delivery system called “Citoject” which delivers the local anaesthetic slowly and doesn’t look like a syringe.
• Quiet equipment. We use KaVo GENTLEsilence handpieces, probably the quietest and virtually vibration free dental drills on the market to create a more relaxed environment.

Once you recognise that you may have some degree of dental anxiety or phobia, the first step is to contact the practice and let your dentist know how you feel. We are here to help!