comfortable care for fearful patients
With the patient that has dental anxiety or maybe even be a dentophobic, typically, it’s been a long time since they’ve been in, and overcoming that can be very difficult. What our practice does is first, we start out by listening, by not making them feel rushed, taking time to get to know them. And that’s one of the most important things. What caused the dental anxiety, what do they need to overcome it? Does that mean sedation? Well, we do offer sedation dentistry. In a lot of patients to start, it means sedation. Sometimes, it can mean just some nitrous oxide, sometimes it just means they need extra time.
That’s one of the most rewarding things for me, to be able to take that dental anxiety patient that is sweating, sitting out in the car, and doesn’t wanna come in the door, but finally comes in the door, they have the conversation with us. And two years later, they come in every six months, they’re smiling, they no longer need the nitrous oxide, they’re waving, and we’re their, you know, biggest fan, and they’re our biggest fan. So, just turning that around. And it can happen over a matter of years, but it takes an initial time investment.