• Is the appointment schedule convenient for you?


• Is the office easy to get to from your home or job?


• Does the office appear to be clean neat and orderly?


• Was your medical and dental history recorded and placed in a permanent file?


• Does the dentist explain techniques that will help you prevent dental health problems provided?


• Are special arrangements made for handling emergencies outside of office hours? (Most dentists make arrangements with a colleague or emergency referral service if they are unable to tend to emergencies)


• Is information provided about fees and payment plans before treatment is scheduled?


• Is your dentist a member of a professional organization?

With the dentist's recommendations, which treatments are urgent and which are not?

Your dentist should be able to advise you! A treatment plan should be given and discussed with you. This helps to identify which treatments are a priority. Treatment can be phased over a time period from weeks to months and in some cases years!

If you have talked with your dentist and still are uncertain about what to do, get a second opinion.


Can I get a copy of my dental records?

This is nearly always possible especially if you are traveling a lot. Speak with you dentist about it!


What happens if I miss a dental appointment?

Dental practices usually have a policy on missed appointments. Ask about this at the time of your initial booking. 24 to 48 hours notice is mostly what is required.


Is fear of dentists common?

Very! Almost all patients who are fearful think they are the only ones who fear going to the dentist. Dental fear is more common than even dentists think. About 50% of the population does not get regular dental care, most of which is due to fear.


What causes dental fear?

One of the causes is a previous bad dental experience at an early age.
Other causes include childhood sexual abuse, claustrophobia, agoraphobia, other phobias, panic attacks disorders and anxiety disorders and what I call phobia by association. Phobia by association happens when a patient makes a false connection and learns to fear something without any direct experience.
A good home care preventive programme is so important!


Can I be put to sleep for my dentistry?

You can but there are some negatives. General anesthesia can be arranged as an in-patient in a hospital environment with full back up facilities as there is a small chance of complications, the most serious of which is death. Dental anesthesiologists are few and far between and it is a difficult arrangement as operating theatres are not fully dentally equipped.
The Dental Regulations are different for each country and it is worth asking the dental office with whom you wish to register.


What are some safe and affordable alternatives?

Intravenous sedation, oral sedation and nitrous oxide conscious sedation have all been used with great success. These procedures rarely require hospitalization. Please ask your dental office for their protocol. If you are pregnant these alternatives are contra indicated.


Do I still have an injection in my mouth with these alternatives?

Nitrous Oxide can eliminate some pain but generally speaking these alternatives may require local anaesthetic.


I'm so worried about my appointment that I can't sleep the night before. By the time I get to the dental office I'm very anxious. Can anything be done about that?

Absolutely. The dentist can prescribe a sleeping pill so you can get a good night's sleep. He or she can also prescribe a sedative that you take an hour before your appointment to keep you calm. You are usually asked to come an hour before treatment. You will be required to fast a little before treatment sometimes up to 4 hours and you will need to be taken to and from the dental office by a responsible adult.


My teeth are in such bad condition that I'm afraid the dentist will reprimand me.

Dentists who are trained in dealing with dental phobias never criticize their patients. Instead, they encourage and help them to improve their dental health and appearance.


I'm deathly afraid of needles. Can they be avoided?

Some dentists use air abraders using fine abrasive particles to remove decay, this can be carried out without injections.
Lasers are becoming more and more popular; this is painless and doesn't require the use of an injection! Like air abraders, lasers cannot remove old silver fillings, for this an injection is usually required unless deep relaxation, auto suggestion and or hypnosis are used to replace the numbing procedure! There is even a computerized injection can deliver the numbing liquid with little discomfort.


How do I go about finding a dentist who treats people with dental fear?

Recommendation of friends, relatives, neighbors, library and or your general medical practitioner rather than on yellow page ads would be a good source. When you call the dental office be up front about your fears; don't try to hide them. Good offices have good telephone receptionists who identify themselves by name and ask how they can be of help. Request that the doctor meet with you without doing any treatment for the first visit. You should expect to pay for the doctor's time. At the very least try to get the dentist to return your call and answer your questions. If you encounter resistance to this then you have called the wrong office. At your first visit you should get to meet the doctor privately to discuss your problem. Try to meet the staff as well since they are an important part of your particular requirements! Check to see if steps have been taken to eliminate some of the scary things you might expect to see in a dental office. Be patient; it may take several calls and visits before you find the dental practice that is right for you.


Can the fear itself be treated?

Absolutely, there are psychologists who treat fears such as fear of flying, fear of driving and fear of dentists. Through a process called desensitization you can learn how to relax and overcome your fears. There are also some dentists and psychologists who can do clinical hypnosis and or auto suggestion specifically for fear of the dentist!