Dental phobia is a serious and often paralyzing fear of seeking dental care. Fear is a learned behaviour which, therefore, can be unlearned. Patient-centred behaviour modification that treats you as a whole person, not as a set of teeth can help you overcome your fears. Our nervous patient programme in Wimbledon has been developed to incorporate the following:
Empower Yourself
Explanation and clarification of any and all procedures proposed is your right as a patient. If you have a question about a particular procedure, ask it! Empower yourself with the knowledge to alleviate fear of the unknown. You should have input into treatment decisions and choices. You should be honest with your dentist regarding how much treatment you think you can tolerate at first. As you build confidence in yourself and trust in the team that is caring for you, the length of your appointment and the amount of work accomplished will increase.
Sense of Control
Signalling system should be established allowing you to stop for any reason, whether it be because you need more anesthesia, want to rinse, or simply need a break. The most common signal is raising your hand.
£
Wimbledon
020 8946 2426
Dental Rooms
I just wanted to say how pleased I am with the final result of my dental treatment. I had wanted to
refresh my smile for a very long time but did not have the courage nor the foresight to do so until I
was introduced to you.
The work you have done is of wonderful quality and quite simply has transformed my smile! I am extremely
grateful.
- C. Brennan -
Never be Embarrassed
If you have be ridiculed in the past for your behaviour or if you are embarrassed by your present dental condition caused by your neglect, please express yourself honestly and give your dentist a chance to understand your concerns and show you that they care. You will be amazed at the wealth of treatment options that you might not have thought were possible. With modern dentistry, it's never too late to recreate a new smile!
Relaxation Techniques
If you feel tense in the chair, the easiest way to relax is through forms of physical relaxation. A relaxed body promotes a clear and relaxed mind. The human body cannot be physically relaxed and mentally anxious at the same time! The brain won't process these feelings simultaneously. Physical relaxation methods are easier to accomplish at first as compared to cognitive ones, so practice forms of physical relaxation first. Examples of physical relaxation are Diaphragmatic Breathing, Progressive muscle relaxation and various methods of taught yoga.
A relaxed body promotes a clear and relaxed mind. By inducing relaxation in the presence of the stimuli that normally induces phobias (the dental environment), the fear response is greatly diminished over multiple exposures and you will gradually desensitize yourself to these fears as you build confidence. The memories of traumatic visits will be replaced with more innocuous ones and this less threatening environment, coupled with your relaxation methods, will help you alleviate your fears.
Distraction
As you get more comfortable in the dental environment, you can engage in various distraction techniques that available. The use of an ipod or MP3 player is a common technique. The use of a virtual reality-like set of eyewear will immerse you in a pleasant visual and auditory environment making you forget that you are in the dental chair. We only suggest distraction techniques once you have established some trust and confidence because your ability to communicate will be compromised, although it is easy to stop any of these devices if need be.
Extreme Cases
Patience and understanding will convert almost any dental phobic but in extreme cases we can use oral or intravenous sedation to help you through your treatment.
Modern dentistry has many new techniques with regards to the administration of local anaesthetics to block any possibility of pain.
There are many people who have anatomical or biological variations that do require more individualized techniques in order to predictably achieve proper local analgesia.
This variation must be respected and communicated to your dentist. All injections should be given slowly. The needle itself is not the major cause of discomfort, but in fact, it is the pressure and volume of fluids being injected that causes the discomfort.
There are also great differences in the types of tissue in various locations anatomically and from person to person that must be considered when administering injections.
Sedation
Many patients feel self-conscious about dental treatment and nervous about visiting the dentist. We offer special care to our anxious patients through two forms of sedation to make their appointments more comfortable and relaxing.
The first type is called intravenous or IV sedation. The sedative drug is injected in a controlled manner, so that you feel relaxed during the dental treatment.
The second type is inhalation sedation, which is good if you don't like needles. A small mask is placed over your nose and mouth, and you breathe in a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen. This gas mixture will make you feel calm during your dental appointment. You remain awake and aware while receiving the sedation, but you will experience a deep sensation of peace and relaxation while the team work on your teeth.
Our team of dentists and nurses are specially trained to deliver these types of sedation and will make sure that you are safe and comfortable at all times during your visit.
Life benefits:
Now you don't have to let your fear of the dentist stop you from getting the dental treatment that you need.
A safe way to feel calm and relaxed during dental treatment.
£
Wimbledon
020 8946 2426
Dental Rooms
Always great service - friendly, helpful and efficient. No waiting around which makes a difference from other places!
- L. Moss, as seen on Google Reviews -
£
Wimbledon
020 8946 2426
Dental Rooms
Friendly, very professional and painless! The work is always first class and, importantly, well explained. Highly recommended.
£
Wimbledon
020 8946 2426
Dental Rooms
