Dental Anxiety
Are We Subconsciously Damaging Our Teeth?
Could we be subconsciously damaging our teeth? If we are brushing our teeth twice daily, visiting the dentist regularly, surely our teeth must be fine? We wish that was the case! We might have a really good dental hygiene routine, but there are plenty of things we do unconsciously every single day that are seriously…
What can dentists do for patients with dental anxiety?
For patients who suffer from dental anxiety, going to the dentist for a check-up or treatment can be a particularly daunting experience. What can a dentist do to make your experience better? Clinics designed to reduce dental anxiety From the moment you step through the door of the clinic, a welcoming environment helps in the…
Embarrassed about your teeth?
Embarrassment is a common concern for people with dental anxiety, fear or phobia, many of whom haven’t seen a dentist for many years. In this short clip Dr Mike Gow explains that dentists who understand dental anxiety will not judge or lecture you. They will listen to what your goals are, reassure you about your…
What is Dental Anxiety?
Do you feel fearful at the thought of going to the dentist? Do you get scared even thinking about entering the waiting room? Then it’s likely that you’re suffering from dental anxiety. Most people don’t relish the idea of going for their check up. However, for some it can be a terrifying thought. Around 50%…
Robert De Niro Has Dentophobia!
Celebrities are just like us after all! Apparently, Robert De Niro suffers from Dentophobia. As you can imagine Dentophobia is a fear of the dentist and we know Robert De Niro isn’t the only one out there who has it. The Goodfella’s actor believes that dentistry equipment can and will cause diseases. While that may…
Are you scared of the dentist?
How can you overcome your fear of the dentist? GUEST BLOG BY HAYLEY IRONS Being afraid of the dentist might sound like a cliché. However for many people this is a reality. In fact, according to the Oral Health Foundation, at least half of UK adults admit to being scared of the dentist. Around 12%…
The things your dentist wished you knew
What does your dentist wish that you knew? Investing in your smile is crucial. The more you take care of it, the less problems you’ll encounter. There is more to looking after teeth than just brushing, flossing and going for regular dental check-ups. Here are a few things your dentist wishes you knew! Honesty is…
Sedation Dentistry: What Is It?
Sedation dentistry could be a dream come true for nervous and anxious patients Unfortunately, not everyone loves going to the dentist. Some people would rather suffer in silence than go to their dental practice about their persistent toothache. Some patients would rather ignore their sensitive teeth than go to the dentist for a treatment. Something…
Are you ruining your smile?
You could be ruining your smile without even knowing it! You have a more extensive knowledge of dental health these days. Brushing twice a day with toothpaste is not all you need to do though. Here are some hints and tips on how and why these things could be wasting your teeth and therefore ruining…
How Could Dental Hypnosis Help You Overcome Your Phobia?
Are you anxious about visits to the dentist and/or treatment? If you prefer drug-free solutions to anxiety or are avoiding essential treatment because of your fear, try hypnosis. Why Choose dental hypnosis? Hypnosis works extremely well for some people, but it is not for everyone. This is because hypnosis is not some kind of ‘stage…
Did you finally make that dental appointment?
Making and keeping that dental appointment is really hard for nervous patients. Making a dental appointment if you suffer from dental anxiety and have not seen a dentist for a while is an achievement. Having a bit of time before having to step into the practice can either serve as recovery and preparation time or…
Finding the right dentist
Just HOW do you START A JOURNEY TOWARDS FINDING THE RIGHT DENTIST? guest blog by Nikoleta Gehrmann Hopefully this helps you in finding the right dentist. Has it been a while since you have seen a dentist? You know it’s time to change that, but you are not sure where to start. Here are some…
What to Watch for in Dental Practice Reviews?
Dental practice reviews GUEST BLOG BY Nikoleta Gehrmann Dental practice reviews are a great source of information…when written by real patients. It is a well-known fact that not all online reviews are real, and not all dentists are as nervous-patient friendly as they claim to be, so you want to make sure to choose…
Fear of visiting the dentist – an easy option!
nearly one in three adults do not see a dentist for up to ten years at a time due to anxiety. it’s important for dentists to offer the best possible patient experience. We take a look at some dental clinics to see how they deliberately create an angst-free patient experience. Consideration of the practice décor One…
How To Speak to Your Dentist About Your Dental Phobia
Believe it or not, your dentist actually understands your phobia of the dentist. A quarter of the UK population have dental phobia, whether that fear be completely irrational, or because of a previous bad experience. One thing we always urge phobic patients to do, is to speak to their dentist about their phobia, but a…
Dental Fear – What Things Do We Fear The Most About The Dentist?
Dental Fear manifests in different ways! Ever wondered what the most common dental fears are? Today on the Defacto Dentists blog, we’re looking at the top 5 things people are scared of when it comes to the dentist. Are you scared of any of these?… Drills and Needles It’s unsurprising that these two appear at…
Why Are So Many Of Us Scared Of The Dentist?
One quarter of Brits are scared of the dentist. But why do so many of dread our twenty minute check-ups? Why are so many of us scared of the dentist? What doesn’t help is that us Brits tend to over-exaggerate sometimes! While your filling or root canal probably wasn’t a heap of fun, was it…
Oral Health vs Mental Health
It is often the case that people only give thought to their physical health. Mental health and Oral health are often an after-thought, but here at Defacto Dentists, we want to challenge you to think differently about the way you take care of your overall health! Poor oral health has been linked with illnesses…
Dogs and Dental Phobia
Dogs aren’t known as man’s best friend for no reason. Dogs are ever so cute and cuddly, instinctive and incredibly intelligent. They also make the perfect chair side comparison! These four-legged friends make going to the dentist much more enjoyable, particularly for phobic patients. Paws for Stress. In recent years, dogs have beentaken…
Can A Well Decorated Practice Make A Difference To Phobic Patients?
How can a well decorated practice make a difference to phobic patients? Phobic dental patients don’t struggle to go to the dentist solely because of their fear of treatment, but also because they fear being in the dental practice environment. Ensuring that all patients feel relaxed (not just the phobic ones) in the practice is…
Picking the Perfect Practice!
Picking the right dental practice for you is vital. Picking a dental practice that suits your needs will ensure that you get the best possible care. But everyone always wonders what factors they should look at before choosing. Today, we’re going to look at the 5 main factors you should consider when choosing a practice.…
Going Back To The Dentist
Going back to the dentist after a long period of avoiding appointments can be a daunting experience. Everyone has their own reasons for not going to the dentist – some people have dental phobia and are scared of the dentist, some people don’t feel the need to visit the dentist unless they feel pain…
What is Dental Phobia? An Interview with a Dentist
As it is Dental Phobia Awareness Week, we had a chat to dentist Mike Gow to find out a little bit more about what dental phobia is and what can be done about it! How big an issue is dental phobia? It is a bigger issue than most people realise, mainly because a lot of…
Kelly Osborne Suffers from Dentophobia!
Dentophobia, the fear of visiting dentists and receiving dental treatment is not uncommon. In fact, you probably know someone who isn’t hugely fond of visiting the dentist. Dentophobia can manifest itself in anyone. There are many celebrities who are just as scared of sitting in the dentist’s chair! Kelly Osbourne, TV presenter, fashion critic, designer…
Dental Phobia in Children: What to do
Dental phobia in Children can happen easily. Alongside promoting 2 minutes of thorough brushing twice daily, taking a child to the dentist regularly from a very young age is necessary to instil brilliant dental hygiene habits in them but for some children, going to the dentist can seem like a scary thing. A child’s fear…
A Third of Us Suffer From Dental Fear!
Over a third of the UK’s population has dental fear! We, at Defacto, work with those suffering from dental fear regularly. However, the vastness of the issue is shocking. Around 34% of Brits admitted to having a fear of the dentist. The research questioned 2,000 British adults about their fears when visiting the doctors, dentists…
How to Have a Good Dentist Appointment: What You Should and Shouldn’t Do
You might be approaching your six-month check up, or you might have just registered at a new practice. It’s common that we all want to have a good dentist appointment. But, it goes beyond excessive brushing beforehand. Actually that could be one of the things you don’t do. Brushing right before you go for your…
Why You Shouldn’t Skip Dental Appointments
Dental appointments can feel inconvenient. You might need to go during work and they cost money. However, they are necessary. We’ve seen a couple of articles this week explaining how people are skipping their dental appointments to save money. Here’s a few reasons why that isn’t a great idea. Flossing and brushing isn’t enough. You…
How Can Dentists Help with Sleep Apnea
Do you have trouble with snoring or sleeping? Do you wake up tired? It’s possible that you may be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes.…
A Quarter of Brits Attempting DIY Dentistry
Here at Defacto we focus on the large number of the UK public who avoid the dentist. Whether its poor memory or dental anxiety, we encourage those people to get the dental care they need. However, it appears that British people are trying their hand at DIY dentistry. It goes without saying that we are against…
What Causes Dry Mouth?
We’ve all experienced dry mouth at some point in our lives, but what causes it? We don’t mean dry mouth in the sense that you’ve woken up with a hangover or an illness. What we mean is chronic dry mouth. Frequent dry mouth can be a sign of underlying health issues and we want you…
Self-Help Guide Launched For Children With Dental Anxiety
A self-help guide has been launched to help children with dental anxiety deal with the issue themselves. The guide was launched with the hopes to help children with dental anxiety combat their fears. In turn reducing the number of children with phobias of the dentist. Academics at The University of Sheffield led the production of…
How to Improve Your Child’s First Dental Visit
How can you improve your child’s first dental visit? We don’t know a lot of people who like going to the dentist. However, for us it’s routine, for children it could be intimidating. A strange place with loud noises and strangers doesn’t even sound comfortable for us. Although, there are ways you can improve your…
Dental Anxiety: How Your Waiting Room Can Help
Whether you’re a patient or a dental professional you’ll be aware that people suffer with dental anxiety. It’s dealt with by both sides on a daily basis, around 25% of people globally suffer from dental anxiety. It may be the case that a reassuring dentist or sedation dentistry soothes some patients. However, for those with…