Nervous About the Dentist? How We Work With Anxious Patients

If the thought of a dental appointment makes your chest tighten, you are in a much larger group than you would guess, and you are not going to be judged for it here. This page is about what actually helps, written for people who have been putting it off.

The short answer

Dental anxiety is common, it is usually rooted in a specific bad experience or a feeling of not being in control, and both of those can be worked with. The single most useful thing you can do is tell us when you book. That one sentence changes how the appointment is planned, how much time is set aside, and how it is paced.

What actually helps

• Telling us in advance. Say it when you ring. It goes on your record so you are not explaining yourself to a stranger in the chair, and we allow more time so nothing is rushed.
• Agreeing a stop signal. A raised hand means we stop, immediately, no discussion. Knowing you can interrupt at any point is often what makes the difference, and most people never need to use it.
• Being told what is happening before it happens. Several of our patients say this is the thing that settled them. No sudden movements, no unexplained noises, and the plan explained before we start rather than as we go.
• Starting with nothing more than a look. A first appointment can be an examination and a conversation. Nothing has to be done on the day, and you will never be talked into treatment you have not agreed to.
• Numbing gel before the injection. Applied first so the injection itself is far less noticeable. If needles are your particular fear, say so, because this is routine and it helps.
• Morning appointments. Most anxious patients do better first thing, before a day of anticipation builds up.
• Bringing someone with you. Entirely fine, and often useful for remembering what was said.
• Headphones. Your own music is a genuinely effective distraction and nobody minds.

The bit that stops people booking

For a lot of people the real fear is not pain, it is embarrassment. If you have not been to a dentist in five, ten or twenty years and you know things are not good, the worry is being told off.

We see people in exactly that position every week. It is far more common than you would think, and it is not remotely interesting to us as a moral matter. You will get a clear picture of where things stand and a plan for sorting it, in a sensible order, at a pace you can manage. Nobody lectures anybody here.

If it helps to see it from other patients rather than from us, our reviews mention this more than any other single thing.

What if my anxiety is severe?

There is a spectrum between finding it unpleasant and genuine dental phobia. If you are at the far end of it, ring and talk to us before booking anything, so we can be honest with you about whether we are the right fit or whether you would be better served by a referral to a practice offering sedation. We would much rather have that conversation than have you sit through something you cannot cope with.

What it costs

A new patient examination is £89 including X-rays. That covers the look, the explanation and a written plan with the cost of each item, so there are no surprises and no pressure to decide on the day. Everything we charge is published on our fees page, which is worth a look in advance if not knowing the cost is part of what worries you.

Frequently asked questions

Will you tell me off for not coming sooner?

No. It serves no purpose and it is the reason a lot of people stay away for years. You will get an honest assessment and a plan, not a telling off.

Can I just come and talk first, without any treatment?

Ring us and ask. If it would help you to meet the team and see the place before committing to anything, say so when you call and we will do what we can to arrange it. An examination appointment also involves no treatment unless you agree to it there and then.

What if I need to stop halfway through?

Then we stop. We agree a hand signal at the start for exactly this, and treatment can be split across shorter visits if that suits you better than one long one. Being in control of when it pauses is a large part of feeling able to sit through it.

I am terrified of the injection specifically. What can you do?

Tell us. Numbing gel goes on first, the injection is given slowly, which hurts considerably less than a quick one, and you do not have to watch. For many people the anticipation is far worse than the reality once it is done this way.

If you have been putting it off, the phone call is genuinely the hardest part. Call us on 01625 574609 and mention that you are nervous. We are an independent, family-run practice ten minutes from Macclesfield, with free parking right outside so you are not hunting for a space on the way in.

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