1 in 7 Brits would sooner go through a divorce than face their dentists!

Before I began working at Pure Smiles I guess my relationship with the dentist was a “fix and repair when required”, and now I see it as a yearly MOT with a 6- monthly service with Ciara our hygienist!

Many people feel anxious or nervous about visiting the dentist. In fact, around one in ten people are so worried about seeing a dentist that they simply don't go; unsurprisingly, they often end up in pain and needing a lot of restorative treatment which could otherwise have been prevented.

Women are slightly more likely to suffer from this type of anxiety than men, and the top two fears are having a tooth drilled (30%) and having a local anaesthetic injection (28%). At Pure Smiles we understand that there are multiple reasons that cause people to become nervous dental patients as well as these triggers; a bad childhood experience, fear of judgement over poor oral health, and fear of being out of control of the situation are just some of them.

At Pure Smiles, we always do our best to put nervous patients at ease and make their experience as enjoyable as possible. I ensure that I address any concerns our patient may have at the very beginning and that no fear is a silly one. The whole team is aware of the patients’ needs on the day. The goal for us is to make your dental experience a new one so that you are able to see us regularly and avoid any major oral healthcare problems. We are sympathetic, compassionate and understanding, and are happy to spend extra time to work at your own pace, while offering gentle encouragement.

Whatever the reason behind your fear – even if you can’t identify a specific trigger – we can help.

We also offer a number of other ways of helping you to relax.

Sedation is a way in which very nervous patient can be sedated and relaxed for treatment without the need for anaesthetics, it will quickly make you feel drowsy and calm. You will be conscious throughout the treatment, and will be able to co-operate with the dentist - although usually patients remember very little of this afterwards. IV Sedation is a way in which very nervous patient can be fully sedated and relaxed for treatment without the need for a general anaesthetic, it will quickly make you feel relaxed and calm. You will be conscious throughout the treatment, and will be able to co-operate with the dentist - although after sedation most patients remember very little of what happened. Ayzaaz is our in house provider of sedation and has helped many anxious patients to have their complex treatments completed successfully and comfortably.  So if you lack confidence in your smile and are really frightened of dental treatment, sedation could be the solution, letting you achieve the smile you have always wanted.

Hypnotherapy is a safe and effective way of communicating with your subconscious mind to help ease problems such as dental phobias, gagging, and teeth grinding. We can also teach you self-management techniques so that you can maintain progress after your treatment is complete. You can watch TV programmes; listen to music while we work.

The secret to great oral health:

Visit Ciara every 6 months to keep your gums healthy and your pearly whites sparkly

See your dentist yearly – prevention is better than a cure and easier on the pocket!