Your local dentist Sydney CBD will have always attempted to meet the diverse needs of their patients whether they are young or old or those with complicated background medical histories. But there is one group of patients for whom many teams have made it a mission to open up their dental services to.
Dental anxieties
Nearly one in three patients describe having some form of dental anxiety in connection with their standard check up, let alone if any actual procedure is booked. It is therefore quite unfortunate that those suffering from dental anxieties feel isolated or somehow in the minority; in reality, it is really not unusual to have deep concerns about an upcoming dental appointment.
Not only are there often old wife tales or family stories of dental disasters which get passed down from parent to child but also a sort of primordial aversion to sitting stationary in a chair while somebody is gazing deeply into your mouth with a sharp object, and there is no reason to be ashamed about it. Many dental practitioners find it less than fun when they are in the chair!
But in all seriousness, dental anxieties do result in patients avoiding early intervention and ending up having to experience more invasive and expensive treatments further down the line when they have to present at their local clinic as an emergency case.
This often leads to nervous patients when they do eventually attend a dental surgery doing so with multiple ailments and a desire to rush their appointments. One of the most important aspects of dentistry is explaining the situation to the patient and allowing them to direct how their treatment goes if a nervous patient is eager to leave or minimise the quantity of treatment they have regardless of the consequences, rash decisions can be made.
There can also be a great deal of shame related to the general state of their teeth and oral hygiene; this is often completely unrelated to what their actual dental needs might be. Many dental teams find nervous patients have a habit of exaggerating how their teeth appear to others.
If you are a nervous patient or have a family or loved one who you are seeking out dental care for, it is important to remind yourself or them that the role of a dental team or practitioner is that of a hired assistant; someone whose job it is to help them achieve good oral health. It is important not to place your dental team on too high of a pedestal. They have no authority over you and are simply here to assist, at the end of the day that’s what you pay us for!
All dental practices will endeavour to provide precise appointment times particularly for nervous patients in order to minimise the period which they have to stay in the waiting room as they will understand and this can be particularly distressing for an anxious patient.
If you are currently experiencing a dental emergency and require immediate care, please feel free to get in contact with your dental team; many will keep vacant slots available on their schedule in order to accommodate same day emergency appointments. And of course, if you’re worried, explain this as soon as possible, so they can make any needed adjustments to make your trip to them more comfortable.
DISCLAIMER
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
