Dental Anxiety

If you are one of the millions of people in the UK who suffer from some level of anxiety or phobia when visiting the dentist, then you'll be delighted to hear there are a number of ways in which your fears can be conquered.

Dental anxiety is extremely common:
5.5 million people in the UK are affected by dental phobia, with almost one in four of these saying they would rather suffer from toothache than visit the dentist.
There are many reasons behind this fear, including fear of pain, needles, gagging and having things placed inside your mouth. Some people may also feel very vulnerable in the dentist's chair, or may be embarrassed by their teeth. Often this fear can stem from an incident in your childhood. Whatever the reason, there are a number of steps you can take to help you conquer your fear.

The first is to share your concerns with us. We understand that many people do have problems with visiting the dentist and are happy to do what we can to help.

Remember too that modern dental techniques are far more sophisticated, and in many cases are virtually pain-free. Even the simplest methods of helping can make a huge difference. These can include taking things very slowly, at a pace to suit you; agreeing a signal enabling you to tell us to stop if you need a break, and putting a pleasant-tasting local anaesthetic gel on your gums before giving you an injection so that you don't feel it.

There are a number of things you can do to help yourself too. Book your appointment for a quiet time of your day so you are not under any time pressures and do some deep breathing exercises. Many people find Bach's Rescue Remedy or aromatherapy helpful.

For more help and advice, please feel free to speak to us. You can also find advice and support on www.beyondfear.org.