Have you always had a real fear of the dentist? Here at SDAI, we understand not everyone views a visit to the dentist in the same way.
Even those with no fear of the dentist can still be a bit nervous when they know work is needed, and for those who have a proper phobia, a trip to the dentist can be a living nightmare.
That’s why everything about our practice here in Martin Place is designed with the patient in mind.
From the moment you walk in, we aim to give you a comfortable, pain-free dental experience.
Dentophobia – a very real problem
Dentophobia, or sometimes called odontophobia, is an irrational fear of the dentist or dental procedures.
Like all irrational fears, there’s no reason behind it – that’s why irrational. It’s estimated that somewhere between 5 – 10% of people suffer from this fear and never go to the dentist at all.
Although only a small percentage of people have a genuine phobia, an estimated three-quarters of people have a fear of the dentist to some degree.
From slightly worried through to incredibly stressed, these 75% of people don’t all have phobias, but rather a bad experience in their past which brings on anxiety.
This is actually a form of PTSD, usually resulting from an unpleasant experience in childhood. A visit to the dentist as a kid can be scary, even if there’s no pain involved, so our brains develop a healthy fear to make sure we don’t do it again.
And it doesn’t help that a visit to the dentist is synonymous with pain. Movies, books, even children’s cartoons all showing the dentist as a traumatic experience doesn’t help.
We pick up this connection from an early age, sometimes sub-consciously, and when we sit in the dentist’s chair, our brains warn us that we’re making a mistake by releasing stress hormones.
How we help you overcome your fear of the dentist
Here’s the thing when it comes to fear of the dentist; it’s 100% psychological.
With just a few a few simple tricks and tips we can help you relax and calm down.
It may seem obvious, but just by simply talking to us about your fears is enough to alleviate them. We are happy to sit and have a chat with you before any treatment, explaining exactly what’s going to happen, what you can expect, and why you don’t have to worry.
Many peoples’ fear stems from experiences where dentists were considered uncaring, impersonal or cold, which is why we do everything we can to make you comfortable, relaxed and have a full understanding of what’s going on.
There are also ways in which you can help yourself when coming to visit us.
Bring someone along for emotional support if you feel like it will help. We have no problems with you having someone to hold your hand – literally and metaphorically.
We also don’t mind if you bring something along to distract yourself, like music. Fidget spinners are now quite common in treatment rooms!
If your fear of the dentist is particularly bad, you may find meditation helpful, both before you come see us, and during treatment.
Just remember one thing – the pain experienced at the dentist is no where near as bad as you imagine, especially with today’s modern anaesthetic advances.
Why choose SDAI as your dental practitioner
We pledge to value our patients and their needs above all else, and follow the same rules here as we would in all our personal lives -respect, integrity, and honesty.
We truly believe that compassion and caring, mixed with experience and innovation, can give you a stress-free dental experience.
It starts when you walk in through our door and we greet you with a warm, friendly smile, and continues right through aftercare and follow-up appointments.
With our exclusive boutique service, we will work with you to craft an individualised treatment plan, designed to not only meet your specific needs, but to ensure your experience is worry-free from the moment you step through our door.
Our team of highly trained doctors and empathetic, dedicated staff, aim to make sure your visit with us is comfortable, relaxed and stress-free, resulting in the very best in dental care in Sydney.
Contact us today if you have any questions about how we can help you or if you’d like to know more about our dental treatment plans. We’d love to hear from you.