At Farnham Road Dental Practice, we have a lot of experience dealing with nervous patients in Guildford. This means we have seen a variety of different people and reasons for dental fear. Some people have a combination of issues whereas others have a strong experience of a particular kind of phobia.

If you have anxiety around visiting the dentist, we encourage you to come and talk to a member of our friendly team. We can tailor a treatment plan that incorporates sensitivity to your particular issues so that we can support you. It may be tempting to wait until you really need to visit the dentist but this can have a strongly detrimental effect on your oral health and lead to the need for more extensive treatment later that could be avoided with action right now.

Just a few of the common reasons for dental fear include:

• Lack of control – we understand that lying back in a dentist’s chair can be a vulnerable position. You cannot see what is going on and it can be hard to communicate. If this is particularly difficult for you, we can agree to provide you will all the information you need as you go along. The dentist will narrate what is happening so you feel like you are a part of the process. We can arrange a signalling system so you can let us know if you need a break or a chance to speak;
• Needles – there are some dental procedures that require the use of needles for anaesthesia. We think that developments in dentistry mean that these are more comfortable than they used to be but you may still feel some sensation. We can discuss sedation options with you that will help you feel calmer if you need an injection. We can also ensure that you never see the needle as, for some people, this can be helpful;
• Judgement – some people feel quite paranoid about their oral health and think that they may be judged for the state of their teeth. We are happy to talk to you about this anxiety and can reassure you that we understand why someone might not visit their dentist for long periods of time.