Dental Nerves: What Helps
Small, practical changes that transform how a dental visit feels, from your first message through to treatment, and how we look after nervous patients.
I Get Anxious About the Dentist. What Can Make a Visit Easier?
Let us know you're nervous when you book, so the dentist is prepared before you walk in. If phoning feels like too much, send us a WhatsApp message instead. Pick an appointment time that won't feel rushed, bring someone along, and ask us to talk you through each step before we do it. We'll agree a stop signal and respect it every time. At Peninsula Dentists on Greenwich Peninsula, nothing happens without your agreement, your first visit can simply be a conversation with Dr Pei, and for treatment, oral surgeon Dr Imran Riaz offers IV sedation if your nerves are severe.
Start by Telling Us
The most helpful step is also the simplest: when you book, say that you're anxious and what in particular frightens you. For some people it's needles; for others the noise of the drill, gagging, feeling trapped, embarrassment about the state of their teeth, or worry about the bill. Each of these has its own solution, and if we know beforehand, Dr Pei can shape the appointment around you instead of discovering it once you're in the chair. It also helps to hear what has made past visits better or worse. There's no need to explain it all in one go, and a partner, parent or friend can contact us on your behalf. Many of the people we see had stayed away for years. Whatever your story, nobody here will lecture you.
Getting Ready for Your Visit
- Use WhatsApp if a phone call feels daunting. A single sentence in your own words is plenty
- Ask for a first appointment that's simply a chat, with no examination unless you decide you'd like one
- Pick a slot that leaves you unhurried and with little time to sit and dwell beforehand. Many nervous patients prefer first thing
- Bring someone you trust, and they can sit in the surgery with you if that helps
- If we send you a link to complete your medical history beforehand, filling it in at home means less to think about on the day
- Have a light meal first, unless we've advised otherwise, and cut back on coffee, which can heighten anxiety
- Jot down any questions in advance, because they're easy to forget once you're there
Send Us a Message First
Tell us what worries you, in whatever words feel right. There's no pressure to book.
In the Chair
- We'll describe each step before we do it, explain why, and give you a warning before anything loud
- We agree a stop signal, such as lifting a hand, and we pause the moment you use it, every single time. Knowing you're in control often makes it possible to begin
- Try box breathing: breathe in slowly while counting to four, pause for the same count, then let it out over four. Slow breathing and panic don't sit well together
- Headphones are welcome, with your own playlist or a podcast to mask the sounds
- Start with short appointments and build up gradually as your confidence grows
- Ask for breaks whenever you want them; we're happy to work in short bursts
- We won't start anything until you're ready and have said yes, and you're free to change your mind whenever you like
Common Fears, and How We Help
| Fear | How we help |
|---|---|
| Needles | We apply numbing gel first and inject very slowly, so most people hardly notice it |
| The noise of the drill | Bring headphones and your own music, and we'll always tell you before anything noisy |
| Gagging | Short bursts of work with pauses, digital iTero scans instead of putty, and sedation for a strong gag reflex |
| Embarrassment | There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Whether it's been one year or fifteen, we're pleased you came, and what we see is common |
| Feeling out of control | Nothing begins until you say so, and raising your hand stops us instantly |
| Hidden costs | Every fee is set out in a written plan before treatment begins |
Let us know which of these applies to you, so we can plan around it.
When Treatment Feels Too Much: IV Sedation
IV sedation is for treatment rather than dental examinations, and it's provided at the practice by Dr Imran Riaz, our oral surgeon. A fine cannula goes into a vein in your hand or forearm, and very quickly you start to feel warm, calm and pleasantly drowsy. You're still conscious, so you can reply to us and follow simple requests, but the anxiety fades, time seems to speed up and most people have only a hazy memory of it later. The tooth is still numbed with local anaesthetic, and your breathing, heart rate and oxygen levels are monitored throughout by a trained team.
An adult needs to come with you, stay nearby and take you home, and for the next 24 hours driving, alcohol and important decisions or paperwork are all off limits. IV sedation costs £500 per session, with £250 for each extra 30 minutes, and Dr Riaz checks that it suits you before anything is booked. Our guide to IV sedation explains how to prepare.
If It's Been Years Since You Last Went
For most people, the hardest moment is making contact. Whether you've been away two years or twenty, what we find is usually familiar and fixable, and we concentrate on what can be done next rather than on what's been missed. A first visit can be a conversation, followed by a gentle look only when you're ready. After that comes a written plan split into urgent, important and can-wait, with a fee against each item. If you're in pain now, call before 9.30am, Monday to Saturday, and we'll see you that day, registered or not, for £70. Our guide to coming back after years away walks you through exactly what happens.
Will It Get Easier?
For most people it does. Fear grows on uncertainty, and every appointment that goes exactly as we said it would chips a little of it away. Beginning with something easy, such as a chat or a hygiene visit with Stefanie Goodall, and building from there tends to work far better than tackling everything at once. Coming in regularly means each appointment stays brief and predictable, and that is far gentler on your nerves than staying away until an emergency forces the issue. Sedation remains available as a back-up for longer treatment, so you never have to grit your teeth through anything.
Questions
This guide explains the options in general terms. Only an examination can tell you which of them suits your own teeth.