Care for Anxious Patients
Taking the fear out of dentistry
At Medland one of our main goals is to make our patients feel more at ease and comfortable during dental treatment. From your first contact, it’s obvious that Medland is not your average dental practice.
When you walk through our front door it is our goal to make you feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible. During your first appointment, we’ll start by simply listening to your concerns, allowing you to talk us through your previous treatment, experiences and concerns. It is often more relaxing to do this out of the surgery and in the comfort of one of our private lounge areas.
Your Medland Dentist can then discuss and identify your main fears related to dentistry and then implement strategies to provide support and overcome and manage your anxiety and in some cases, dental phobia.
All of our team will focus on your comfort and respect your feelings and concerns during your dental appointment.
We look forward to caring for you with genuine kindness, empathy, attention and dental excellence at all times.
We look forward to taking care of your family’s oral health.
- 07 3426 5777
Managing Dental Anxiety at Medland
Dental anxiety is a common issue that many people face. By openly communicating your fears, utilising relaxation techniques, and working with our supportive dental team, you can gradually overcome your dental anxiety and receive the dental care you want or need. At Medland Dental our Dentists, Hygienists and Oral Health Therapists are highly experienced and will create a tailored strategy for you. This may involve:
- Establishing a Signal: We will agree upon a signal that you can use to communicate if you need a break or if you’re feeling uncomfortable during the treatment. This way, you can have control over the procedure and take breaks when necessary.
- Relaxation Techniques: Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or listening to calming music before and during your dental appointment. These techniques can help reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calmness.
- Distraction Techniques: If you would like to listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks during your appointment we have a vast collection of music available on our iPods for you to select and listen to with headphones, or you are welcome to bring your own. We offer stress balls to hold in your hand to squeeze and manipulate during dental treatment. We are also available for “hand holding” during your local anaesthetic or to comfort you throughout your appointment. All of these strategies can divert your attention away from the dental treatment and help you relax.
- Sedation Dentistry: Sedation dentistry may involve the use of prescribed medication or the use of inhalation sedation to provide a light form of sedation to help you relax during dental procedures.
Gradual Desensitisation: If your dental anxiety is severe, you can work with your Medland dentist on a desensitisation plan. This involves gradually exposing yourself to dental procedures over time, starting with less invasive treatments, to help you build confidence and reduce anxiety.
The Medland Dental Team will never make you feel like your dental fears, anxieties or phobias are an inconvenience to us. It is our goal to take the fear out of dentistry.
Dental Anxiety FAQs
Below are some of the frequently asked questions we receive regarding dental anxiety at Medland Dental.
If you have any other questions please get in touch with our friendly team.
If you suffer from mild to moderate dental anxiety inhalation sedation or relative analgesia (RA) may be used.
RA is a very safe procedure and suitable for most people.
It helps to relieve your anxiety and increase your confidence during dental treatment using a gas that is inhaled from a mask placed over your nose prior to treatment. Most patients find that it makes the treatment time feel like it passes quicker.
It is not a substitute for local anaesthesia and is commonly used in combination with local anaesthesia to achieve high levels of comfort and relaxation during your treatment.
RA cannot be used if you have take a prescribed oral medication for dental anxiety.
The effects of RA are completely reversible and wear off within a very short period of time. Towards the end of your treatment you will be placed on 100% oxygen and then taken to one of our patient lounges to relax and recover after your treatment.
We invite you to experience the Medland difference.
Your Medland Dentist may prescribe oral medications to help reduce dental anxiety. These medications are typically taken before going to sleep the night before, and approximately one hour before your dental procedure.
As these medications not only reduce anxiety but also induce drowsiness, it is very important that you do not drive to or from your dental appointment. You also shouldn’t drive, operate machinery, or do other tasks that require alertness until the effects have entirely worn off, which may take up to 24hours.
Medland Dental does not provide dental treatment under general anaesthetic (GA). Most of our patients find that by openly communicating their fears, utilising relaxation techniques, relative analgesia (RA) or oral medication, and working with our supportive dental team, they can gradually overcome their dental anxiety and receive the dental care they want or need without the need for a general anaesthetic.
Many dental procedures are multistage and cannot be completed to a high standard without separate appointments. Having multiple general anaesthetics for dental treatment is generally not desirable.
In some circumstances, a general anaesthetic is the best way of managing dental treatment, and in these situations, Medland has a trusted network of experienced specialists who can provide treatment under general anaesthetic in a safe environment.
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Care for anxious patients
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60+ years history
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