'I HATE going to the dentist!'
'What do you hate about it?'
'Everything!'
Are you anxious about going to the dentist? Don't worry, you're not alone! Each person has their own reasons for being nervous about getting into that chair. We get it, so we've thought about what we come across most often and done our best to find ways to help.
It's important to us to figure out exactly what makes you reluctant to make an appointment. That way we can make sure we change the way we do things so you're most comfortable.
1. "Is it going to hurt?"
Needles make it into the top 10 adult phobias, so it's no surprise that many of our patients are anxious about it the first time, anyway. We have spent years trying to make our treatments as comfortable as they possibly can be. Many of our new patients come in anxious and stressed, just to exclaim 'oh, was that it? I hardly felt a thing. afterwards. Proper pain management is essentialwe can't begin to imagine what old school dentistry put patients through. Maybe you've had one of those experiences and that's why you're nervous. Although we can't promise there won't ever be any discomfort, you can be assured there are measures we can take to make your visit with us as easy as possible:
- We can put a numbing cream on before the needle, which reduces the sting.
- We have a new type of anaesthetic where we only have to numb up the area around the tooth, so we will use this wherever we can. This means a smaller, quicker, more comfortable needle and you won't get that 'half my face is numb' feeling.
- We use pain distraction techniques. The 'gate control theory' provides natural pain relief by confusing your body's own nerves through distraction.
- If we are only working on your gums, we can use a needle-free numbing device.
- Ask us to put on the TV or some music (we can even let you pick what song!), or bring in your iPod.
- If you're super nervous, you can request happy gas. We can also prescribe medication that you can take before the appointment which will help you feel very calm and relaxed.
2. Worried about getting lectured
If you can't remember the last time you saw a dentist, or "forgot" to floss a couple of times, you might be worried about getting a lecture from us. The thing is, we aren't here to judge you or play the blame game. There's no reason to feel embarrassed if you've neglected your teeth for a while or didn't take on advice from previous dentists. Instead, we want you talk openly to us about your experiences, your reasons, your concerns. You know you should floss, but don't. Why? Maybe you hate the feeling of putting your fingers into the back of your mouth; or maybe it bleeds and that worries you. There are actually ways we can help or alternative ways of flossing that you might not know about.
3. Worried about the bill
We want to create an environment where our patients don't have to feel that dread about their dental bill. We aren't the cheapest dentist, nor are we the most expensive. We focus on VALUE. You can rest assured that we would NEVER use cheaper materials or cut corners to reduce costs, because we believe in quality and 'doing it once, doing it well'. The worst thing is seeing patchy dental work that won't last.
The second worst is unnecessary treatment. We will provide all options and work together to find the one that suits you most. The most expensive care is not always the most suitable. We want you to feel comfortable in being open to us not only about what you can and can't afford, but also what you really want. If you don't care about that stained front tooth that still works perfectly well, then there is absolutely no need to touch it. But if it bothers you, then we will fix it.
We will always give you a quote before starting any work. Nothing is worse than a surprise bill.
Unfortunately many patients don't go to the dentist as much as they should because of cost and this leads to big problems. Putting things off never makes it better, and sadly the treatment for it just becomes more complicated, more invasive and more expensive
4. Busy – Don't have time to go to my appointment
We work extended hours from Monday to Friday plus Saturdays, because we know how hard it is to get time off work for an appointment. We appreciate when our patient's make an effort to be on time, so we have also done our best to organise our appointments to minimise running late. Of course, you can't plan for everything, so if we are a bit behind schedule, we will give you a call and let you know.
Think regular check-ups are a waste of time because you don't have any problems? The truth is all patients are different: we will assess your risk level and let you know, truthfully, how often you need to see us. The problem is that patients are usually completely unaware of a problem for years, and by the time it starts hurting, it's too late. Regular check-ups allow us to catch it early, where the treatment is simple. If we find it early enough, a lot of the time you don't even need treatment! Did you know you can reverse the earliest damage done by decay?