Jenny Hill – Patient of Dr David Rudin (The Arnold Dental Centre)

What was the reason for your dental phobia?

I believe that my dental phobia arose from an experience when I was a child.  I went to the dentist and can remember being held down in the chair whilst the gas mask was placed over my mouth.  I can remember seeing the dentist and nurse leaning over me and then waking up.  At approximately sixteen years of age I went back to a dentist and had a panic attack – after these experiences I did not visit a dentist again until I was twenty four years old.

What made you decide to take the first step in contacting a dentist despite your phobia?

My first step in approaching the dentist despite my phobia was because I had a tooth which had deteriorated to such a state there was barely any tooth visible.  The tooth was very painful.

What made you choose the practice/clinic you did?

When a new friend became aware of my fear of dentists she recommended her own dentist which was your practice.  She herself had been scared of dentists until she had visited your practice.  She said the dentist practice had been  supportive of her as she had been afraid of the dentists.

Describe your dental experience

My anxiety regarding visiting the dentist would begin as soon as I made the appointment.  The evening before I would be worried and would think of things which could result in my non attendance for an appointment.  Prior to me visiting the Kirkby/Arnold practice I had walked out of a dentist rather than have treatment.  I would describe my feelings as being terrified!  In respect of the treatment –  I am afraid of needles, the sight of blood, sounds of the drilling, not being in control of what is taking place.  I have been so anxious that I feared I would faint.  I have felt panic stricken to the extent of wanting to get out of the dentist chair whether the treatment was completed or not!

How did you manage to overcome your dental phobia?

I managed to overcome my dental phobia through the patience of the my personal dentist who has been very patient with me, understanding my fear and talking me through any treatment.  I have been made to feel that it is ‘OK to be anxious’ and have been supported throughout any dental procedure.  I have been encouraged to use my relaxation tape and on occasion when I have forgotten this my dentist has provided me with a relaxation tape.

How do you currently feel about your dental phobia?

I am still a little apprehensive about tooth extractions but am much more relaxed in respect of having fillings, crowns etc.

Any other comments or words of advice to people out there who are suffering from dental phobia and are avoiding the dentist?

My advice is not to avoid the dentist no matter how fearful you are. I felt stupid initially explaining how fearful I was of the dentist, but it was the best thing I have done! I would strongly advise speaking to your dentist and sharing your fears so they can help you through the process.

The Arnold Dental Centre – 77c High Street, Nottingham, NG5 7DJ, Web: www.thearnoldcentre.co.uk, Tel: 0115 920 0571

August 25, 2011 at 12:21 pm | case studies | No comment

Kate Howey – Patient of Dr Leila Johnson (Causeway Dental Practice)

What was the reason for your dental phobia?

I went to the dentist at the age of about 9yrs to have a tooth removed and ended up being pinned down by my mother, the nurse and the dentist had my head trapped between his legs to keep me still. At that age all I could hear was the cracking of the tooth not actually any pain. This experience has made me nervous of the dentist.

What made you decide to take the first step in contacting a dentist despite your phobia?

For my job I need to have a check up and get a form signed to enable me to travel with the team

What made you choose the practice/clinic you did?

I heard from a friend that Ms johnson was very nice and gentle and puts patients at ease.

Describe your dental experience.

The receptionist was very helpful and found me a date and time to suit. My check up was very straight forward and I was given a thorough check up and x rays. During this process the Ms Johnson was very nice and explained every step of the way what was happening.

I was then booked in for another appointment and on my return I had 4 fillings and two injections….. these did not hurt and although I was scared Ms Johnson reassured me at all times. Although I had treatment it was a good experience for me. I was in the chair for an hour and not once did I want to get up and run out as I did in the past.

How did you manage to overcome your dental phobia?

I think by having a dentist that explains everything and put me at ease.

How do you currently feel about your dental phobia?

I don’t think that i really have one anymore after my last experience, I don’t mind going again.

Any other comments or words of advice to people out there who are suffering from dental phobia and are avoiding the dentist?

Ask for an explanation of what exactly is going to happen and what you should feel and how long it will take.

Causeway Dental Practice – 23 Causeway, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 6AN, Web: www.causewaydentalpractice.co.uk,Tel: 01869 252 394

July 19, 2011 at 11:22 am | case studies | No comment

Olly Watts – Patient of Dr Kalpesh Bohara (The Dental Suite)

What was the reason for your dental phobia?

Bad experience at younger age.

What made you decide to take the first step in contacting a dentist despite your phobia?

Needed work doing and felt it was about time to see a dentist.

What made you choose the practice/clinic you did?

After extensive research online and forum chats with professionals, including Dr. Kalpesh Bohara, I found the Dental Suite to be one of the leading practices dealing with nervous patients.

Describe your dental experience.

First appointment was a welcoming review by Dr. Bohara at the Leicester practice, where he talked me through the work I would need.

As soon as the following week work was started, it was helpful to have everything fully explained. I felt less and less nervous with each appointment.

How did you manage to overcome your dental phobia?

Support from both staff at the Dental Suite and family. Also, having procedures explained was very helpful.

How do you currently feel about your dental phobia?

It is becoming less of a problem.

Any other comments or words of advice to people out there who are suffering from dental phobia and are avoiding the dentist?

Just bite the bullet and take the first step. It gets easier from there if you pick the right dentist.

The Dental Suite – 36 Frederick Street, Loughborough, Leicester, LE11 3BJ.  Web: www.dental-suite.co.uk, Tel: 01509 231 144

March 15, 2011 at 12:52 pm | case studies | No comment

Linda – Patient of Dr Yasmin George (The Courtyard Clinic)

linWhat was the reason for your dental phobia?

My dental phobia was built over a number of years and different dentists, from childhood I had pain from a brace to too many teeth in my mouth! with some form of treatment from which I only remember the pain. Over the last
few years I have also developed a fear of needles as well so it became easier to live with the toothache than to do something about it.

What made you decide to take the first step in contacting a dentist despite your phobia?

I decided to make a complete change in that, I had gone to dentists if I had some much pain I couldn’t stand it, to trying to find a dentist with a long term vision for me and I felt comfortable with.

What made you choose the dentist / clinic that you did?

I looked for a dentist with experience of dealing with nervous patients and Yasmin’s clinic ticked all of my boxes.

Describe your dental experience

My experience with the Courtyard Clinic has been one of care, excellent customer focus, professionalism and empowerment. Yasmin and her team, Sue and Alison, answered all of my questions and picked up my body language when I became uncomfortable at any point of my treatment. My anxiety has very much been conquered and my fear of needles has also faded.

How did you manage to overcome your dental phobia?

Firstly I had to acknowledge that I had a problem, then look for the right help and be guided by Yasmin and her team if I had any ongoing concerns or worries.

How do you currently feel about your dental phobia?

I feel that I now have a very good team of professionals that I know will look after me and continue to always listen.

Any other comments or words of advice to people out there who are suffering from dental phobia and are avoiding the dentist?

I think, to this question, everybody is different and their fears are made from different experiences, I have gone from a large amount of remedial fixing under sedation to a level of comfort to take the next steps without sedation in just 4 months. I would highly recommend Yasmin as, not only one of the nicest individuals I have ever met, but also one of the most professional and knowledgeable dentist I feel I could have to look after me.

November 5, 2009 at 4:21 pm | case studies | No comment

Pat Dunford – Patient of Dr Yasmin George (The Courtyard Clinic)

Pat DunfordWhat was the reason for your dental phobia?

The reason for my dental phobia goes right back to me as a 3 year old! Believe it or not, I still remember the most awful experience of being held down by nurses, crying and struggling against a huge black rubber mask! Of course following that, I can only remember being frightened and not really remembering any kindness or understanding – the fear just grew over the years. I got round it by seeing dentists who offered IV drugs, I suppose similar to the sedation I receive now, but I am sure it was a deeper anaesthetic and probably against the law!

What made you decide to take the first step in contacting a dentist despite your phobia?

My overfilled teeth started to crack and the fear of not going to the dentist was as great at the fear of going! I found a practice in North Cheam who offered sedation for nervous patients, I attended the first time because I had broken a tooth and he just patched it with cement, that was in 2007. My last check up was October 2007 and I was told I needed two crowns. By this time the dentist who provided sedation had left the practice and I was to be referred on, I didn’t hear any more.

What made you choose the dentist / clinic that you did?

Then I broke another tooth, I became so anxious and worried I would get toothache and not be able to get it treated. In the end the fear of not going to the dentist must have become greater, so I Google’d ‘sedation dentist in Surrey’ – and here we are!

Describe your dental experience

From the very first phone conversation with Sue to the initial check up with Yasmin, then right through the treatment with Joe taking care of me, I can honestly say the experience got better! I don’t even get anxious any more. I can’t say I have overcome my phobia – I get round it, with sedation. Can I say that 5 hours in the chair with a cushion and a blanket comfortably sleeping while the work goes on can only best be described as a very nice way to spend the afternoon!

You are all so kind, I no longer feel like a silly child for making a fuss…………………….

and just look at my lovely teeth now – thank you Yasmin

I would advise anyone to take that big step and pick up the phone, go along to the practice for a chat and a look round. There is nothing to worry about. I am so pleased I made that call 14 months ago.

As you know I am very happy to talk to any nervous patients – just pass on my number or call me and and I will make contact.

This patient has undergone treatment with Dr Yasmin George of The Courtyard Clinic, who is a dental phobia certified dentist.

The Courtyard Clinic – 30 London Street, Chertsey Surrey, KT16 8AA. Web: www.thecourtyardclinic.co.uk, Tel: 01932 582 949

July 29, 2009 at 8:24 pm | case studies | No comment

Brenda Davey (London) – Patient of Dr Anoop Maini (Aqua Dental Spa)

brenda dental phobia patientWhat was the reason for your dental phobia?

I really don’t know what the reason for my dental phobia was and/or is. My mother tells me I had a bad experience with an army dentist when I was a toddler but I don’t remember that. It may be that I feel helpless in the dentist’s chair because of my ignorance of dental matters: I know very much more about the functions of my internal organs than I do about the way my teeth and mouth work. But truly I think I’m just a timid person who very much dislikes pain!

What made you decide to take the first step in contacting a dentist despite your phobia?

My first contact with a dentist was when my mother took me as a child. Then, as a teenager, vanity led me to have my front teeth straightened (the power of vanity is amazing!). After that I didn’t approach a dentist for very many years, confident in the belief that I would never have any problem. When I finally approached a dentist again it was because I thought I would only ever need a cleaning.

What made you choose the dentist / clinic that you did?

I chose the old Park West practice because it was recommended to me. Dr Maini (Aqua Spa) “inherited” me from that practice.

Describe your dental experience

My first contacts with the practice were for appraisal, cleaning and teaching me how to brush and floss properly. I could cope with that: no injections and no drilling sounds. It’s true there were the sounds and sensations of polishing, which I dislike, but that didn’t actually frighten me. But then at the beginning of 2000 one of my pre-molars snapped because of a crumbling filling. I was lucky enough not to suffer pain because the crack missed the nerve (by less than a millimetre!) but it was frightening. Dr Maini treated me: it was the first time he’d given me any potentially painful treatment. I was extremely anxious, so much so that I was visibly shaking and couldn’t even hold the plastic cup to rinse my mouth. I even forgot to breathe occasionally! Dr Maini got me through that and mended the tooth successfully. I ended the session pale and shaking but not completely shattered. Since then he, together with some of his colleagues, have done some extensive work on me for rather serious problems. It’s not been enjoyable by any means, but Dr Maini gives me a mild sedative when he thinks I need it, as well as anaesthetic injections and a DVD viewer to distract me.

How did you manage to overcome your dental phobia?

I don’t think I have overcome my dental phobia but I can control it much better. Dr Maini and his colleagues are very good at explaining why treatments have to be done. Understanding that need and the danger of neglect of the teeth and mouth help to reconcile me to accepting discomfort in the chair. But the greatest help to me is that all the staff at the practice deal with me as me rather than as “the patient”. I can express my anxieties and feelings to any of them and they immediately seek a practical way of overcoming them. They have very up-to-date equipment and techniques so that I can be confident that I will spend as little time in the chair as possible and will feel as little sensation as possible.

How do you currently feel about your dental phobia?

The phobia still exists inside me. I continue to fear going to the dentist’s, much as I like all the staff there. But their relaxed, understanding approach and high level of modern training calm me so that I am able to cope.

Any other comments or words of advice to people out there who are suffering from dental phobia and are avoiding the dentist?

Don’t avoid the dentist! I happily sailed through without dental care until my fifties – and then I was hit by some very serious problems, which could have been prevented earlier. Do some research: seek out a practice which is up-to-date, where the staff take refresher training courses and where they are eager to explain the details of proposed treatment – and where they are willing and able to listen to you.

This patient has undergone treatment with Dr Anoop Maini of Aqua Dental Spa, who is a dental phobia certified dentist.

Aqua Dental Spa – 25 Manchester Square London W1U 3PY, Web: www.gentledentists.co.uk,  Tel: 020 7935 5332

July 3, 2009 at 11:39 am | case studies | No comment