Sedation & Dental Phobia

There aren't many people (if any) who actually enjoy going to the dentist - but at least one in 10 are absolutely terrified of the experience.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a short-term therapy, typically lasting 6-10 sessions. CBT has been shown to help with a range of psychological problems, most notably for depression and anxiety-related disorders. Both cognitive and behavioural interventions have been shown to be successful in reducing dental anxiety and increasing dental attendance.

There isn't a clear boundary that separates normal” anxiety from phobia. Everyone has fears and concerns and copes with them in different ways. However, the prospect of dental work does not need to fill you with terror. If it does, then you may need some help overcoming the fears.

In many cases, dentophobia is a generic fear of dentists and dental work. Therefore, people who suffer from dentophobia cannot even visit the dentist without suffering from anxiety attacks or other symptoms. Similarly, the attacks can also be stimulated by the generic smells, sights or sounds of the dental surgery - so simply being there is enough to trigger a phobic reaction. In many other cases of dentophobia however, the fear revolves around something much more defined, specific and individual.

At Arnica we believe that how we treat our patients is as important as our level of technical ability. Our philosophy of ‘Gentle Dentistry‘ is about continually refining our approach to improve the level of stress or anxiety a nervous or anxious patient experiences.

It is our mission at Bucharest British Dental Place that every nervous patient receives our very best efforts. Caring for dental phobic patients, in our experience, is massively rewarding. It is truly wonderful to see another human being overcome what was previously an insurmountable problem in their life and the personal growth that often follows when someone resolves a long standing dental fear is what makes what were doing so very much worthwhile.

Should you expect a raise if you get your certification in local anesthetic? Don't count on it. Of course, some states require local anesthesia certification to get a dental hygiene license, but those who decide to become certified probably shouldn't expect a fatter paycheck for their effort. The current job market basically demands that we improve in our clinical skills just to keep the jobs we have.

What sort of techniques, technologies and approaches can dentists deploy to help treat dental phobic patients? There are a number of tactics that dentists can use, although a great deal will depend on what kind of phobia the patient has. The term ‘dental phobia' is actually used to describe a wide range of fears that centre around the dental experience. For example, some patients are phobic about pain. Other patients can be phobic about being under anaesthetic. Other can have a fear of choking or a fear of the dental drill. All of these types of fears are usually included under the umbrella of ‘dental phobia'.

People with a dental phobia will avoid dental care at all costs. Phobic patients may ‘suffer in silence' with toothache for long periods of time. Their phobia may cause them to feel shame and embarrassment which may impact on social and work relationships.

Being a cosmetic dentist this is something that I am well aware of. It is often a personal choice but finding an experienced female dentist would be a step in the right direction. I have television screens above my chair that I use for lenghty procedures and for some nervous patients. I find though that the best approach is to be calm and over communicative as to what I am doing. Often keeping talking is enough to distract and relax a patient.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a type of talking therapy that helps you to address negative thoughts and behaviours. A behavioural therapist may be able to teach you ways of reducing your anxiety about going to the dentist. Your GP may be able to recommend a therapist.

It doesn't matter how long you have had the fear, or what caused it, you can learn to feel differently, and the wonderful thing is that it only takes one good experience at the dentist to wipe out all those negative associations and fill you with calm confidence forever.

Ask Questions - We will start with making you comfortable and gaining your trust. Do not be afraid to ask questions. If dental treatment is required, remember that explanation and clarification of any and all procedures proposed are part of the service.

Visiting the dentist is crucial as we know that dental health is directly linked to your general overall health. When visiting us we want you to feel calm and at ease because we believe you deserve the best dental care possible. This will in turn, help you to avoid serious dental concerns.

Our sympathetic, caring and most importantly, experienced team is here to help. With years of experience helping people beat their fears we are able to offer a complete range of options so whatever stage of tackling your dental fear you have reached we hope to be able to help you.

When a new patient comes to our clinic, Dr Teasdale and the team take the time to truly listen. Before even stepping into the surgery Dr Teasdale's first appointment with each patient is in the comfort area for a relaxed chat over coffee. It is through really listening to each patient's individual story, what they have been through, their needs and expectations that we are able to work together to plan how we can comfortably restore, and care for them. By making each patient feel unique and supported we aim to reduce and even eliminate the intimidation that walking into the surgery for the first time can bring.

Children can experience dental phobia and as a parent it is important you remain a good support during this time. Try to remain calm with the lead up to the visit and also during the process so your child does not become more anxious during the visit.

Treatments for dental fear often include a combination of behavioral and pharmacological techniques. Specialized dental fear clinics use both psychologists and dentists to help people learn to manage and decrease their fear of dental treatment. The goal of these clinics is to provide individuals with the fear management skills necessary for them to receive regular dental care with a minimum of fear or anxiety. While specialized clinics exist to help individuals manage and overcome their fear of dentistry, they are rare. Many dental providers outside of such clinics use similar behavioral and cognitive strategies to help patients reduce their fear.

In our experience, the seeds of the phobia can be sown at a young age — a trip to the dentist for a child involves a big person standing over them doing something not very nice and so the fear starts to develop. As an adult, it is often associated with pain — it involves someone getting very close to us, invading our personal space, which a lot of people find uncomfortable.