Clifton Dental Studio 92 Queens Road, Bristol

Call Today On 0117 973 1910
Email [email protected]
Clifton Dental Studio, 92 Queens Road, Bristol, Avon,BS8 1RT

Call Clifton Dental Studio Today On 0117 973 1910

Posts Tagged ‘anxiety’

Overcome dental phobia with help from Swindon dentist

The sweat starts running down your back. Your heart begins to beat faster and your breathing becomes heavier. You’re looking around for a way out and starting to panic. These will be familiar feelings to you if you have ever suffered from a phobia of any kind. Most of us are scared of certain things but when the fear takes over completely it becomes a phobia, something which can be very difficult to overcome. Unfortunately for the health of many teeth, one of the most common phobias in the UK is dental phobia. There is something about the traditional image of the dentist that makes some people very afraid and stories about patients not having visited the dentist in several decades are very common. This might seem like a trivial matter but it means that they are not receiving the dental treatment they need and could be putting the health of their teeth and their overall health at considerable risk. It is also true that many of the reasons why people initially developed a fear of the dentist no longer exist. Modern dentistry is vastly different to the dental practices that may have caused many of these dental phobias years ago. Modern dentists are trained to deal with extremely anxious patients and many people find that just talking through their concerns with a dentist can help them to face their fears. There are other modern methods to deal with dental phobia, including aromatherapy and breathing techniques. These can help patients to relax before an appointment, allowing them to gain the dental treatment they often desperately need. Feel free to discuss your fears with a Swindon dentist who will be happy to help.

Overcome dental phobia with help from Bristol dentist

For some people, just the mere mention of the word dentist is enough to get the heart racing and a feeling of nausea overwhelming the whole body. Dental phobia is one of the most common phobias in the UK but most sufferers don’t realise they are far from alone in their fear. A phobia is officially classified as an irrational or severe fear that causes an immediate anxiety response or complete avoidance of the stimulus. Boiled down for dental phobics this means their fear of the dentist is so great they will avoid going at all costs. The cruel irony of the situation being that avoiding the dentist is likely to lead to an increased need to see one for emergency treatment in the future. Dental phobia can be caused by any number of circumstances but research has shown that several reasons crop up time and again. For many patients a previous traumatic experience at the dentist, possibly during childhood, can be the cause of lifelong associated fear. For others, it is the fear of embarrassment because of their teeth and let’s not forget the classic anxiety over pain. Whatever the cause of the phobia it is important that patients are able to confront these fears and receive the necessary treatment. First and foremost it is important to talk to a dentist. Bristol dentists are specially trained to deal with anxious patients and often just talking about the treatment will be enough to allay some of the fear. Other options include breathing exercises or self-hypnotism to control fear during appointments, and many dentists are now experimenting with aromatherapy techniques to help clam patients. Above all, it is just important to remember that you are not alone and that the dentist will be able to help you to overcome your fears with your help.

Chepstow dentist uses self-hypnosis techniques for dental phobia

In a recent survey in the UK, over 90 per cent of people admitted to having some fear of the dentist. The level of fear obviously differed from person to person and let’s face it, no one actually enjoys going to the dentist but most of us are able to overcome our fears because we realise the importance of our dental health. For others there is more of a significant fear but they are still able to overcome it. This more low level reluctance to visit the dentist is commonly known as dental anxiety. However, for some people, the fear of the dentist is so great that they are simply not able to rationalise their dental health against their fear. This is a more serious problem known as dental phobia. They are unable to visit the dentist even for a simple check up. The irony of course is that by not visiting the dentist they are increasing the likelihood of needing more complicated dental treatment in the future. There are many reasons why people suffer from dental phobia. It may be due to a bad experience with a dentist in the past, possibly during childhood. For others it is the lack of control when in the dentist’s chair. Some people find having dental implements in their mouth very invasive. Recent research has found that many patients suffer from a transferred phobia. This is when a parent has imposed their own phobia onto their child. Whatever the cause of the phobia it is important that the patient is able to overcome it for the sake of their health. The first thing phobic patients need to do is simply talk to their dentist. Dentists are trained to deal with anxious patients and will be able to allay any particular fears they have. The dentists will also be able to explain what other tools are available to anxious patients such as self-hypnosis techniques. It has also recently been found that lavender oil is successful in calming patients before an appointment. Whatever the extent of your anxiety, a dentist in Chepstow will be able to talk you through the procedures and offer you helpful advice on how to overcome your fear and receive the dental treatment that we all need on a regular basis.

Call Today On 0117 973 1910 Email [email protected]

Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

Logo3
Ada 2014
Logo1
Smile Awards
Aesthetic Dentistry Winner
ADA2018 Finalist Logo
As seen in the sunday times
Ada 2015
Aesthetic Dentistry Finalist

Contact Clifton Dental Studio Today!

Call Today On 0117 973 1910
Email [email protected]
Clifton Dental Studio, 92 Queens Road,Bristol, Avon,BS8 1RT

Monday to Thursday 9am – 5pm, Friday 8.30am – 3pm

Dr. Neil Gerrard BDS (Bristol), RDT, MSc (Dental Implants),  GDC no 76257. Clifton Dental Studio is a Private Dental Practice. Website last updated: July 2018
General Dental Council’s (GDC)   Complaints Procedure   Staff GDC Information
Would you like to know more about how your information is protected and accessed? Please click on the relevant links below
Patient Personal Information       Privacy Notice      Cookie Policy

How To Find Us

Clifton Dental Studio 92 Queens Road, Bristol