Dental Anxiety and Nervous Patients
HEALTH SERVICES BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Do You Feel Anxious about Your Dental Appointment? We’re Here to Change that.
Dentophobia is one of the most common fears amongst people of different ages. According to a study conducted by Oral-B as published by the Sydney Morning Herald, 83 percent of Australians admit to having some level of anxiety when visiting the dentist. Out of 1,004 Australians aged 18-64 interviewed, half would rather be humiliated publicly than visit the dentist.
As dental professionals, we understand this. Going to the dentist can be a concern for many, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We see this challenge as an opportunity, not a threat. We’re here to make your dental anxiety our mission.
Do You Feel Anxious about Your Dental Appointment? We’re Here to Change that.
Dentophobia is one of the most common fears amongst people of different ages. According to a study conducted by Oral-B as published by the Sydney Morning Herald, 83 percent of Australians admit to having some level of anxiety when visiting the dentist. Out of 1,004 Australians aged 18-64 interviewed, half would rather be humiliated publicly than visit the dentist.
As dental professionals, we understand this. Going to the dentist can be a concern for many, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We see this challenge as an opportunity, not a threat. We’re here to make your dental anxiety our mission.
What are the Common Causes of Fear of the Dentist?
Fear of the dentist is not an irrational one. It is one borne out of a variety of deeply rooted fears that have become associated with dental visits. There are three common root fears that cause a fear of the dentist.
Fear of Losing All Control
Fear of Being Embarrassed
Fear of Pain
Our Promise to You
At Dental Boutique, we like making and keeping promises to our patients. And here is our promise to you if you are one of the many anxious patients in this world.
We promise to be non-judgmental at all times. Our space is a safe space for you to be yourself and we will appreciate you no matter what.
We promise to find the least painful alternative at all times. While we cannot guarantee that all procedures will be discomfort-free, we invest heavily in technology that highly minimises the pain that our patients experience.
We promise to always give you agency. You have control of every outcome and a say in every situation that occurs within our walls.
Why It’s Time to Visit the Dentist
Many people wouldn’t ever be caught visiting the dentist. But paying a visit to a dental clinic can prove wonders for you. Based on the feedback we get from our patients, we’ve never had anyone walk out of our doors with remorse.
If you’re suffering from problems with your teeth, chances are you have a hard time smiling because you don’t feel good about yourself. Maybe you’re even in more pain than you realise. Visiting the dentist is not just about having nice teeth. It’s more than that. Here are a few reasons why you should visit the dentist.
For your health and wellbeing
Your mouth is also one of the most sensitive areas of your whole body. An infection caused by tooth decay or gum infection can cause more damage to you as a whole than you think. Having healthy teeth and gums is key to being healthy as a whole.
To boost your self-esteem
We’ve had multiple patients who make it a habit to hide their smile. They would laugh while covering their mouths with their hands or smile with their lips closed for photos. All this because they weren’t confident with their teeth.
At Dental Boutique we’re all about restoring people’s reason to smile and giving them their confidence back. Visiting a dentist could be your one step to building the confidence you need to start dating, go to that job interview or be more active in your community. It all starts with bringing your smile to the next level.
To change your life
It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way
Fearing the dentist is highly common, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Our promise to you is that your visit to Dental Boutique will break all scary stereotypes of going to the dentist. We make it a point to make our space a safe and secure one. We hold no judgments towards any of our patients and always treat everyone with special care and attention.
How We Handle Anxious Patients
We deal with anxious patients with the highest level of positive regard, patience and compassion. The following are our best practices when dealing with anxiety in our patients:
We give patients enough time to express their concerns, worries, needs and desires and never, never, never judge them.
We explain all risks and benefits of all treatment options our patients have so there are no surprises during treatment.
We give our patients the option for sedation and offer various customised sedation procedures which fit to the patient’s anxiety level to reduce stress and pain.
We establish a fail-safe signal system with our patients. One common signal we use is a hand raise at the signal of pain. This helps patients maintain control during treatment and alerts us if they’re feeling pain or discomfort.
We establish a mutual agreement with our patients regarding taking breaks at fixed intervals. This method alleviates the fear of interrupting the dentist or the worry that a patient may be disturbing them at an inconvenient moment. We never rush through an appointment. Each one is given as much time and care as is needed.
Our Treatments for Anxious Patients
We provide our patients with options to achieve an anxiety-free journey.
Gas Inhalation
Medication
Sleep dentistry (IV Sedation and General Anaesthetic)
These sedation options are great alternatives not just for people with fear of dentists, but also those with:
A fear of needles
A strong gag reflex
A low pain threshold
A past traumatic dental experience
Multiple dental treatments requiring long treatment time
A dislike of noises, smells and taste during dental procedures
A Guide to Help You Overcome Your Fear
Have a Look at Some of Our Work
We have transformed thousands of smiles and improved the confidence of countless patients
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dental anxiety often a symptom of additional anxiety within a person, maybe even at a sub-conscious level?
If so, do you also recommend that a patient can get help via yoga, meditation, or via natural or herbal medicines, in the weeks and months before they have invasive dental procedures?
Many people as well as some psychologists and spiritual healers, believe that the teeth are deeply and intimately connected to a person’s psyche, that there is a deep emotional and spiritual connection to teeth which can make it traumatic for them to have teeth removed. Do you acknowledge this consciousness?
People with poor oral health can also be victim to eating disorders and high irritability because of the discomfort gum or teeth issues might cause. The person as a whole is just as, or even more highly affected as a whole than the effects of having teeth removed. So if there’s an association between the teeth and the soul, there is more at stake by not treating oral problems.
