Balbriggan Dental Care

Fear of the Dentist

Dental techniques have improved so much over the last few years that modern dental treatment can now be relatively painless. Despite this, most people still feel a little nervous at the thought of going to the dentist. If you have not been to see a dentist for some time, you will probably find that things have improved a lot since your last visit. The general attitude is likely to be more relaxed, the dental techniques and safety procedures will be much better, and the equipment will be more up to date.

Why am I afraid of the dentist?
Being ‘afraid of the dentist’ may mean different things to different people. It will probably help if you work out just what it is that worries you most. Maybe the sounds and smells bring back memories of bad experiences as a child, or the thought that having treatment will hurt. The good news is that more and more dentists now understand their patients’ fears, and with a combination of kindness and gentleness can do a great deal to make dental treatment an acceptable, normal part of life.

What is the best time of day to visit the dentist?
Book appointments at a time of day when you feel at your best, and when you do not have any other commitments to worry about. Allow plenty of time so that you can get to the practice in a relaxed frame of mind – arriving in a rush will only make you feel more nervous.

Should I eat before going to the dentist?
It is usually best to have something to eat before you go, so there is no chance of you feeling faint.

Take things one-step at a time
Discuss any proposed treatment with us, and decide what you feel you can cope with. Based on many years experience, it is best only to do the minimum at each visit e.g. usually 1 or 2 fillings only at a time.

Can I ask the dentist to stop if I need to?
If you need to catch your breath, just lift your hand up and we will stop until you are ready to start again. Stop us as much as you like. There is no hurry. Once you know that you can control the situation you will feel more confident. You Decide. We want to keep you informed, give you all the choices, and based on expert objective advice, let you decide on what treatment you want. It’s always your choice, and you are in control.

Techniques the dentist uses to make you feel more comfortable and relaxed:
Would you like us to have background music playing, or describe exactly what we are doing while we are working? Let us know what would help to distract you.

Will things get better with time?
As you get to know and trust your dentist and other members of the practice you will find your fears begin to lessen. In time you will gain control over your fears, and dental care can become a normal part of your life. We’ll never do anything that you don’t want to do.

• Don’t feel embarrassed. It is never too late to start going to the dentist.
• Sedation: we can prescribe you oral sedatives that you can take to relax you before you go into the surgery.
• The numbness is only temporary and will wear off after a few hours.
• We will only do treatment if it is absolutely necessary. We have a very conservative philosophy. For example, we will only suggest a crown if a filling won’t last. It is our policy to take x-rays to doubly make sure that a filling is necessary and as evidence that a filling was required. We often monitor small cavities over a period of time before suggesting a filling.
• Believe it or not, we are human too. We care that you have a pleasant experience. It makes us feel good if you leave happy.