Dental Care
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Nervous Patients & Dental Phobia |
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Dental health is an important component of overall health, but dental phobia, dental anxiety, dental fear, and fear of needles or anaesthesia are major obstacles to receiving proper dental care. Dental phobia is the serious, often paralysing, fear of seeking dental care. It is one of the reasons many people avoid visiting the dentist, and it can therefore have serious consequences for dental health and overall well-being.
 Coping with Dental Phobia
Such problems are in fact remarkably common, and this is a field in which we have special skill.
When contacting the dental surgery to make an appointment, do not be embarrassed to explain you are a nervous patient. Our dental teams will support you through your visit to the centre.
Once you are with the dentist, explain what makes you anxious - different things affect different people, so talk to us. It is our aim to provide you with the best possible care. We will start with making you comfortable and gaining your trust.Do not be afraid to ask questions. If dental treatment is required, remember, explanation and clarification of any and all procedures proposed are part of the service. We tell you and show you as much or as little as you want. Please tell us how much treatment you think you can tolerate at first. Also, you can have input into the treatment choices and decisions. As your confidence builds, the length of the appointment and the treatment carried out can be increased.
It may help you to eat a light meal prior to your appointment. An empty stomach can increase anxiety, while a full stomach is more relaxing. tea, coffee, etc. should be avoided, as these are both stimulants.
In your initial discussions with the dentist, agree a “stop” signal to be used during treatment. This could be, for example, raising your left hand. This will allow you to retain complete control throughout the procedure. |
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Copyright © Fleet Street Clinic 2010
29 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1AA London, United Kingdom
Tel: 020 7353 5678 . Fax: 020 7353 5500
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Patient Health 
Nervous Patients