For some people, going to the dentist is more than an inconvenience. It can cause intense fear, anxiety, or panic that makes it difficult, even impossible, to seek the dental care they need.
At Westminster Dental Care, we understand that severe dental anxiety requires more than simply telling someone to relax. We take a compassionate, personalized approach to helping anxious patients feel safe and supported before, during, and after their dental treatment.
Our practice offers a unique approach for patients experiencing significant dental phobia by combining compassionate dental care with additional psychological support. Dr. McKnight‘s wife, a clinical psychologist, works with severely anxious patients and can provide psychological treatment designed to address the anxiety itself. The practice is also incorporating virtual reality (VR) therapy as an additional tool to help patients manage dental-related fear and anxiety.
You’re Not Alone in Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety can develop for many reasons. Some patients have had a painful or traumatic dental experience in the past. Others may feel uncomfortable with needles, dental sounds, loss of control, or simply being in the dental chair.
For some, the anxiety becomes so severe that they avoid dental care altogether. Unfortunately, avoiding dental visits can allow small oral health concerns to become larger ones. A minor concern may eventually require more extensive treatment. The longer you wait, the more stressful the eventual appointment can feel.
At Westminster Dental Care, we’ll never judge you for how long it has been since your last visit. Our job is to meet you where you are and help you take the next step, offering comforting care along the way to achieving your goals.
A Team Approach to Severe Dental Phobia
Dental anxiety deserves to be taken seriously. For patients who need additional psychological support, our practice can incorporate the expertise of a clinical psychologist into the care experience. Psychological treatment can help patients understand and work through the thoughts, fears, and responses that contribute to their dental anxiety.
This approach can be particularly valuable for patients whose fear has prevented them from receiving necessary dental treatment.
Exploring Virtual Reality for Dental Anxiety
Westminster Dental Care is also integrating virtual reality technology as another tool for helping patients manage anxiety and create a more comfortable dental experience.
VR can provide an immersive distraction that shifts your attention away from the sights and sounds of the dental environment. Depending on the specific therapy approach, virtual reality may also be incorporated into anxiety-management techniques. Our goal is to use technology thoughtfully, as it may provide another way to help patients feel more comfortable and in control.
Comforting Options During Your Dental Visit
Psychological support is one part of our approach. We also offer a comfort menu that allows patients to personalize their experience. Our in-house comfort options include:
Nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”)
Headphones
Sunglasses to reduce the brightness of treatment lights
Blankets
Anesthetic reversal when appropriate
Injection-less anesthesia for certain procedures involving sensitive gums
…and more!
We’ll also record your preferences so our team can remember what helps you feel comfortable during future visits.
A Different Kind of Dental Experience
At Westminster Dental Care, we emphasize compassionate dentistry that meets each patient where they are, without pressure. If you are suffering from dental anxiety, you’re not alone. With the right support, communication, comfort options, and additional psychological and VR-based therapies when needed, dental care can become more manageable.
If fear or anxiety has kept you from getting the dental care you need, we’re here to help you take the first step. Contact Westminster Dental Care to discuss your concerns and learn more about our approach to severe dental anxiety.
