Nervous dental patient
Fear of the dentist has once again been in the media spotlight recently and the team at Castle Gate Dental Practice would like to remind our patients that modern dentistry methods make a patient’s visit to the dentist easy and almost completely pain free.
In the UK as a whole, more than 80 per cent of adults suffer from dental decay and 90 per cent experience a degree of gum disease at some time in their life. Regular visits to the dentist are a big factor in preventing this but very often it is dental anxiety that keeps patients away.
Overcome your dental anxiety
Around 50 per cent of our population does not visit the dentist – and a quarter of those fail to do so because they are too afraid. These statistics cause us great concern at Castle Gate Dental Practice in Dursley.
We are proud to have helped many dentally phobic patients from across Dursley, Cam, Stroud and beyond overcome their dental anxiety – and even look forward to their dental appointments!
If you visit our website, you will find testimonials from once nervous patients. Here is just one:
“I am incredibly nervous of dentists – well, I used to be; I’m not nearly as scared now. My NHS dentist wasn’t as sympathetic as Richard, who always chats afterwards and gives me his time. I’m not rushed at all.” Debbie Chappell, Dursley
Our dentists, hygiene team and dental nurses all do their utmost to make dental visits as calm and stress-free as possible. We do this in a number of ways; by being patient, understanding, unhurried, genuinely empathic and investing in technology that helps relieve anxiety.
Often patients can worry about local anaesthetic injections. So, we have invested in a new computer-controlled anaesthetic delivery system, called The Wand, that works more effectively than traditional syringes, resulting in a more pleasant experience, no pain and no fat lip!
Overcoming fear in children
Trying not to pass on our fears to our children can be tricky. Our advice is to bring your child into your appointment with you from birth. That way they will grow up understanding that the dentist isn’t a scary place.
We will encourage them to sit in the ‘big chair’ and won’t ask to look inside their mouth until they are about two years old. By that time we hope they will be so comfortable in the dental environment they will race to get into the chair before you do.
If you would like to feel less anxious about your dental appointments, please contact Castle Gate Dental Practice. The door to our Dursley dental practice is always open to new patients and emergency patients, and we look forward to meeting you and your family soon.
