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Some patients become anxious when booking the appointment or once they are sat in the dental chair, but others have such an extreme fear that this prevents them from even attending for regular check ups or arranging appointments for their children.

The staff at Pennington Dental take great pride in understanding and allaying these fears, and over the years, we have managed to see and treat a great number of patients who never thought they would overcome their dental fears.

The first step for any nervous patient is picking up the phone and booking in for an appointment. Word-of-mouth is a great way of finding a team who puts their patients first. Please take a look at the reviews of our practice on Google.

At your appointment ask to be shown around and talk to the staff. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have and introduce you to the dentist who will be seeing you for your appointment. Explain to your dentist your fears/anxieties – it will help them to get to know you and make you feel more comfortable.

Book appointments at a time of day when you feel at your best, and when you do not have any other commitments to worry about. Allow plenty of time so that you can get to the practice in a relaxed frame of mind – arriving in a rush will only make you feel more nervous. It is usually best to have something to eat before you attend just to keep your sugar levels up.

If you are still fearful by the time of your appointment, we encourage you to bring a companion with you for moral support – although our nurses are fantastic, fully qualified hand-holders, and will do their utmost to comfort you if you are not able to bring anyone with you.

Another key thing to remember is that you are in charge. Should you feel distressed or need a break at any point, a simple hand signal is enough to let the dentist know you need a break.

Remember, your first appointment is just an examination – and if you’re a regular brusher and flosser, you more than likely have nothing to worry about. Should treatment be required, the dentist may wish to take x-rays before providing you with a treatment plan. Ask as many questions as you want – it is important you understand everything that is being explained to you. We understand that if you are nervous, some things may seem clear, but may not be so clear once you have have left us. If you are unsure of anything, we encourage our patients to call the practice to have questions answered, or to book in for a chat with the dentist for peace of mind and reassurance.

Some common fears are the local anaesthetic injection, the sound of the drill or simply the fact they are scared of the unknown. Dental techniques have improved so much recently, that modern dental treatment can now be completely painless.

There are simple solutions to all of these;

• there are gels that can be applied to the area of the gum to be injected,
• bring an MP3 player and headphones with you to help mentally escape what's going on around you,
• In some cases small fillings can even be done without the drill.

With a combination of kindness and gentleness, dental practices can do a lot more for their patient’s to make dental treatment as stress free as possible. If you haven’t seen a dentist for several years because of fear or anxiety, rest assured that Pennington Dental will do everything possible to make sure your visit is as welcoming, comfortable and stress-free as it can be.

Teeth are for life and can last a lifetime if they are looked after properly. We aim to improve oral health to a high standard before simply asking you to make the commitment of returning to us regularly for check-ups and hygienist appointment. If you can get your mouth into good shape, with the help of the dentist and dental hygienist, you should need less treatment in the future.

Call us now on 01926 863236, and let us get you on the right track to better oral health, an improved outlook on dental treatment, all to help you smile more.