Dental Phobia Mumsnet Discussion

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I have used hypnosis for over 12 years having trained with The British Society of Medical & Dental Hypnosis in 2001 and I have used conscious sedation in practice for 10 years since studying with the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesiology in Dentistry (SAAD) in 2003. I routinely introduce and use new techniques and technology and believe that this is an essential part of working with nervous patients. I have written papers on the topic of the use of technology in helping nervous patients. Examples of technology that I have introduced at The Berkeley Clinic include the ‘Dental Wand STA', Air-abrasion, and CEREC Omnicam. I was the first UK dentists to introduce the ‘Dental Button' and ‘B-calm, systems for nervous patients.

When I was a kid,My habbit was drinking milk a was the only thing i liked it,My mother told me that :((You shouldn t drink it alot any more)),Once my aunt came to our house and every body was sleeping after midnight i went to her room and told her:Please don t tell my mom,(( Can you fill up my bottle of when i was growing up non of my teeth coudn t fall down any more thats why i had to pull all of my teeth out when i was at school.

This information was published by Bupa's Health Content Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition.

The results of all fourteen studies indicated that hypnosis hasa positive effect on reducing dental anxiety in adult patients. Significantly over 43% of studies in this review reported that the aetiology of dental anxiety was related to previous traumatic dental experiences. Most of these studies were small cohorts and of low level of evidence, however they do highlight a possible correlation between aetiology and the existence of dental anxiety. This would be an interesting topic for further research, including large cohorts and randomised clinical trials, especially as 50% of the reviewed papers did not specify this in their studies.

A phobia is an intense, unreasonable fear. People can fear a specific activity, object or situation. People with dental phobia often put off routine care for years or even decades. To avoid it, they'll put up with gum infections (periodontal disease), pain, or even broken and unsightly teeth.

Our entire team of dental staff has undergone special training in using techniques and technology needed to aid those with dental phobia. Bellow follows a more in-depth look at the ways we can help or feel free to call us to discuss any specific needs or concerns.

By providing a safe, comfortable environment, staffed with our highly trained team we do everything we can to ease anxiety and help our patients to relax. Our reception area is calm and tranquil with comfortable seating, magazines and papers to read and in the surgery we have comfortable chairs and can even play the music of choice.

Dental anxiety has been described as a reaction to ‘unknown danger or fear of the unknown'. This differs from a dental phobia, defined as an experience based on ‘a fight or flight' response to ‘a known danger or fear', making the sufferer feel ‘out of control'. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) define it as ‘a marked and persistent fear of a particular object or situation'.

Remember, too, that dentistry has come a long way from the stiff upper lip days that many baby boomers had to endure when they visited the dentist. In the 1960s and 1970s, some dentists were so impressed by the high-speed drills that allowed them to fill cavities in just a few minutes that they often eschewed anesthetics altogether and made patients grin and bear it.

A more common cause behind dental fear is general worry. Many people overthink their treatment and become scared that something unpleasant may occur or their procedure could go wrong. This seems to be rather common in younger patients such as children who hear horror stories from friends about the dentist or who went to an appointment with a parent who was undergoing a somewhat intense or unpleasant appearing procedure.

Everything is explained to you carefully and we make sure all your questions and concerns are answered thoroughly. We give you as much time as you need. We take things one step at a time and you are never rushed with our care. We treat you the way we would like to be treated.

Discuss your concerns with family or friends, this is a great way to get your worries off of your chest and open up about your fears. You probably know someone who has experienced the same feelings about visiting the dentist and this means you won't feel so alone.