If you’re someone who feels their heart rate go up at the thought of going to the dentist, you may benefit from the experience of a compassionate team who really want to help. Read on to learn more about how we can help you overcome your nerves and the amazing IV (intravenous) sedation treatment tool. 

 

What is dental phobia?

 

Dental phobia affects 17% of the population and comes in many forms. Fear is a completely normal emotion, as we humans require fear to keep us safe from day-to-day challenges and obstacles – without fear, we would struggle to avoid danger.

 

It’s not just the fear of actually having dental treatment that can arouse fear – here are a few examples of the fears our patients commonly express:

 

• Being told off by the dentist. 
• Feeling like you’re not in control. 
• Fear of gagging or choking. 
• A fear of being overwhelmed with the news that you require treatment. 
• Fear of the anaesthetic not working during your dental treatment. 
• Embarrassment. 
• Fear of needles. 

 

At The Bristol Dental Practice, our dentists are trained to anticipate the variety of fears our patients have and provide the valuable help they deserve. We encourage patients to let us know what’s on their minds – no issue is too small or too silly to discuss openly.

 

Read more about our team here. 

 

Here for you

 

We understand just how important it is to have the right people around you when you’re feeling nervous about anything, including experiencing dental phobia. We get that the dental practice environment brings back some bad memories for many patients, but we see it as our responsibility to change this. 

 

Having a nurturing environment in which to have dental treatment is something every dental practice should strive to offer. Here at The Bristol Dental Practice, we’ve cultivated just that. Our staff are trained to look after even the most nervous of patients, and dentistry isn’t what it used to be in the past. 

 

A setting you actually want to spend time in 

The dental practice environments of 20 years ago were not the comfortable and welcoming settings they are today. In fact, many patients who are scared of the dentist develop their anxiety due to a stressful or distressing experience at the dentist in the past.   

 

We offer patients the opportunity to take an initial discussion with our treatment coordinator in a non-clinical setting. This can be an excellent opportunity to ease yourself into the idea of having treatment, particularly if you’re scared of the dentist. 

 

We also recommend taking our virtual 3D tour, so you can take a stroll around our practice from the comfort of your own home. 

 

How can IV sedation help me?

 

Sedation dentistry can provide phobic patients with the help they need to have the treatment they need. IV (intravenous) sedation completely removes any emotional obstacles standing in your way, making you feel relaxed while you undergo a given procedure. 

 

For those scared of the dentist, IV sedation can even help undo what can often be years of anxiety and fear. We often treat patients who come back to us no longer needing sedation to carry out treatment, as they realise many of their fears are unfounded. 

 

The benefits of IV sedation include:

 

• In many cases, patients don’t even recall having their procedure carried out, despite being able to communicate with the dentist and remaining awake throughout. 
• Unlike anaesthetic, IV sedation won’t leave you feeling groggy once the effects wear off. Patients are often pleasantly surprised at how good they feel afterwards.
• It can make lengthy dental procedures pass quickly. 
• Our dentists are extremely experienced in carrying out sedation. Dr Rob Endicott has carried out sedation thousands of times. Dr Jonathan Cochrane has undertaken a year-long training programme in conscious sedation at the Eastman Dental Hospital (UCL) in London.  

 

Sedation dentistry in Bristol

 

We offer free no-obligation consultations with our Treatment Coordinator Rebecca. During your visit, you will:

 

• Tell us what you’re looking to achieve from treatment. 
• Have the chance to voice your worries and anxieties, allowing us to plan how to meet them. 
• Meet our friendly team.
• Discuss your options 
• Ask us any questions. 

 

What happens during sedation dentistry?

 

Sedation consultation: We can talk about what you can expect from your treatment journey during your consultation. Our dentists are well-practiced at explaining your treatment in layman’s terms that you can understand how and why we do what we do. We also offer appointments with our treatment coordinator before a consultation in a non-clinical setting. Please let our reception team know if you wish to book one of these and they can arrange this for you. 

 

Information gathering: to create your bespoke treatment plan, we will collect relevant information, such as X-rays and digital photographs, so we can create a picture of your oral health. At this stage, we will ask you whether you would like to proceed with the proposed treatment or not and outline all the costs involved.

 

Consent forms: we will ask you to fill out a consent form and provide us with a list of medications you are currently taking. Once we have seen your consent forms on the day of treatment, we can proceed with sedation and your procedure. 

 

Refer yourself for dental sedation in Bristol

 

We’re happy to receive self-referrals for nervous patients who feel they might benefit from IV sedation. Simply fill out the online form here. 

 

Finding a dentist in Bristol

 

If you’re searching for a dental practice with highly qualified professionals who can look after your teeth and help you build confidence, we believe we can help you. Contact our friendly team today, and start the journey to banish your fear of the dentist.