Anxious About the Dentist?
Dental fear is widespread and nothing to feel awkward about. Here are the practical measures that help, from your first message through to the end of treatment.
Dental Appointments Terrify Me. How Can a Broughty Ferry Practice Make It Easier?
More than you might expect. Here in Broughty Ferry it begins at the booking stage: let us know what it is that scares you (a short WhatsApp message will do), and we'll have a plan in place before you walk through the door. After that there's a first appointment that can be nothing more than a conversation, a stop signal we honour without exception, numbing gel ahead of every injection, and for severe anxiety, IV sedation for treatment at £500 a session.
Why Telling Us Matters
The first step is simply saying that you're nervous, and if you can pin it down, what the nervousness is about. Dental fear takes many forms. Some people dread the needle; others can't stand the whine of the drill, gag easily, hate being reclined with someone leaning over them, or feel ashamed of the state their teeth are in. For a few, the main worry is what it will all cost.
None of those is handled the same way, and if your dentist knows in advance they can prepare for it rather than find out part-way through an appointment. It helps to hear what worked for you at another practice, and what didn't. If getting in touch yourself feels too much, a partner, friend or relative can do it on your behalf.
The Fears We Hear About Most Often
| What worries you | How we handle it |
|---|---|
| The injection | Gel to numb the gum first, then a slow and careful injection. Plenty of people don't feel it at all |
| Drill noise | Bring your own headphones, and we'll warn you before anything noisy begins |
| Gagging | Short spells of work with rests in between, a digital scanner rather than impression putty, and sedation where it's severe |
| Being told off | Not here. Neglected teeth are a weekly sight for us, and we're simply pleased you've come in |
| Not being in control | Nothing starts until you say so, and the stop signal is always honoured |
| A surprise bill | Your plan sets out each fee in writing, before any treatment begins |
If any of these sounds like you, say so. It changes how we organise your appointment.
Start with a Message
Let us know what's on your mind, in whatever way feels easiest.
Things to Do Ahead of Your Visit
- Send a message rather than phoning. You'll find us on WhatsApp at 07984 709110. A single sentence is plenty to begin with.
- Book a conversation only. A free consultation can be purely a chat, with no examination unless you decide you want one.
- Choose your slot carefully. The first appointment of the day means less time sitting in the waiting room; see our opening hours for what's available.
- Complete the forms beforehand. Your medical history can be submitted online before you arrive, so there's less to deal with at reception.
- Bring a companion. They're welcome to sit in the room with you.
- Skip the strong coffee. Caffeine only speeds up a racing pulse. Have something light to eat as well.
- Write your questions down. Anxiety empties the mind, so keep a list on your phone.
Once You're in the Chair
We agree a stop signal before anything begins, most often a raised hand. If you use it, we stop. Always, and without asking why. For a great many people, knowing they can call a halt is the very thing that makes starting possible.
You'll be told what we're about to do and the reason for it, with a warning before anything loud. If you want rests, we'll do the work in short stints. Headphones with music or a podcast are fine. Slow breathing helps as well: in over a count of four, a brief hold, then out for another four. Panic finds it hard to build when the breath is slow and steady.
Nothing goes ahead without your say-so, and changing your mind is allowed at any stage, even in the middle of an appointment.
Sedation for Severe Anxiety
Where treatment is needed, IV sedation can remove the dread almost entirely. A thin cannula goes into a vein on the back of your hand and, after a minute or two, a calm, heavy feeling settles over you, rather like drifting off on the sofa. You can still answer us, but the fear recedes, the time flies past and afterwards you'll recall very little of it. Local anaesthetic numbs your mouth as usual, and your pulse, breathing and oxygen levels are watched the whole time.
An adult will need to bring you in and take you home, and for the following 24 hours you mustn't drive, drink alcohol or sign anything that matters. IV sedation costs £500 a session, with £250 for every extra 30 minutes. How to get ready is covered in our sedation guide.
After a Long Absence
Three years away or thirty, it makes little difference: the hard part is getting in touch, and everything after that is easier. Our attention goes on what can be done from here, not on what has been missed. The first visit can be a conversation, followed by a gentle look when you feel ready, and then a written plan that separates the urgent from the important and the things that can wait, each with its fee.
If you're in pain today, we keep same-day emergency slots at £70, whether or not you're already a patient here. Step by step detail is in our guide to returning to the dentist after a long gap.
It Really Does Get Easier
For nearly everyone, it does. Fear feeds on uncertainty about what's coming next, and each appointment that unfolds exactly as we described takes some of that fear away. It tends to work better to begin with something small, maybe a chat or a cleaning appointment with our hygienist, and build up gradually, rather than trying to face everything at once.
When you're attending regularly, visits stay short and there are few surprises, which is far kinder than a long gap that ends in an emergency. And if a longer course of treatment is ever needed, sedation is there, so nothing has to be endured through gritted teeth.
Questions
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.