I’ve always had a great dentist who understood I had a hard time feeling comfortable in the dental chair. He was patient and explained what he was going to do ahead of time and even stopped to give me a minute if I needed it. Sadly, he retired. Now I’m stuck with this dentist who treats his patients like they’re on a conveyor belt. I’m quite discouraged and not sure I can go back. Is there a way to find a patient dentist again or did I have a rare gem?
Missy
Dear Missy,
While your old dentist may have been a rare gem, there are more gems out there. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look. What I don’t want you to do is put off dental care because of this experience.
What usually ends up happening with anxious patients who run into an insensitive dentist is they put off their dental care until it can’t be ignored because they’re in pain with a dental emergency. I don’t want that to happen to you.
Finding a Dentist Who Cares
The first thing I would do is a search under three terms:
- Cater to Cowards Dentist
- Gentle Dentist
- Sedation Dentist
Almost all dentists who advertise using these terms enjoy working with fearful patients, usually with the long term goal of helping them overcome their fear through a series of positive experiences in the dental chair.
Trust but Verify
While I’d love to say if a dentist tells you they’re good with anxious patients, they probably are, it is always best to check.
One way to do that is to look at their reviews. Sites such as Google and Yelp! often have a series of patient reviews. It’s helpful to read what patients who’ve actually been to their office have experienced, both good and bad.
I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.