It’s normal to fear the dentist, and we specialise in supporting patients with dental anxiety. Many people delay necessary treatment due to fear, sometimes until it’s too late.
At our leading Mona Vale Dental clinic we empathise with your fears and aim to put them at bay with our unique and caring approach to dentistry. Its important to us to understand your fears and triggers so we can find solutions, respect and workaround them.
Headphones to block out any sounds that are unpleasant for you
Television or movies to keep you distracted and occupied
Lip balm where possible
A caring nurse watching over you
No nasty dental smells to bring back memories
Our painless needle practices mean that patients often do not even realise that they have received a needle and it is not rare for them to comment that they didn’t even feel it!
All of our staff are trained with special pain-free injection techniques. We have an agreement and stop system so, that if something is uncomfortable, you can tell us and we will stop.
NuCalm is suitable for all patients, especially those with high anxiety—who tend to experience the most powerful effects.
Introduced to Australians by Smile Doctor in 2012, NuCalm uses a unique combination of natural, non-invasive therapies to quickly create a deep state of relaxation—without drugs, needles, or side effects.
You stay awake and aware, but calm and comfortable throughout your treatment. Afterwards, there’s no grogginess—just a refreshed, relaxed feeling. You can safely drive home and may even enjoy your best night’s sleep in a while!
Though it sounds too good to be true, it really works—and we’re excited to offer it to our patients.
NuCalm combines natural supplements, calming audio through special headphones, dark glasses, and gentle microcurrent patches behind the ears to guide your brain into a deeply relaxed, pre-sleep state—without any discomfort.
Patients love the experience and often ask to use it again.
We’re so confident in its results, we offer one free trial with your treatment.
Some people put off dental treatment because they are just too scared. This means you can end up losing teeth and needing more complex treatment, or settling for dentures.
Yes, that’s right, you don’t feel them. Patients don’t like being hurt. We often hear, “Did you just give me a needle, I didn’t feel anything?” or “Why is my lip going numb, you haven’t given me the needle yet have you?”. It’s a great compliment.
we can alter the mixture to find a level that works for you. Some people absolutely love this treatment. It’s actually fun! It wears off in a few minutes and you can leave the practice co
This form of sedation, or “sleep dentistry”, makes you very drowsy and relaxed during treatment PLUS you’ll have no memory of the treatment the next day. You’ll actually think you slept through it all.
Dental anxiety is not confined to one age group or demographic, and is a common phobia that affects a large portion of the population. This fear, when severe, can stop you from seeking the support you need. Rather than postponing your annual visit, there are a few strategies you can implement to ease the stress of the dentist.
From the jump, open communication is essential. Book in a consultation where you can clearly articulate your fears and concerns so that your dentist can either put them at ease or adjust their approach to ensure they are minimised as much as possible. Relaxing music, breathing techniques, and mindfulness strategies are all commonly used methods to ease the nerves of those with dental anxiety. Having a friend or loved one accompany you to your appointment can be another great way of supporting yourself during the appointment.
For those who experience severe levels of anxiety from dental procedures, consider asking about the availability of sedation options such as nitrous oxide. Regular visits to your dental clinic can gradually reduce fear and build confidence over time. Taking small and manageable steps is the key to success in your oral hygiene journey.
There are a variety of different reasons for why dental anxiety may arise for an individual. Often, the fear of pain is one of the most common, whether it is due to a past negative experience, the experience of another person, or just a situation that they’ve built up in their head. Needles are often another factor that propels anxiety, especially the thought of one being placed into your mouth. For some, it isn’t even the actual feeling of the injection, but instead the idea of the needle itself that they’ve magnified in their head. Not being in control is another sensation that brings up feelings of anxiety, not being able to see what’s happening, and instead imagining what’s going on can create a deeply uncomfortable experience for many people. When this anxiety has stopped someone from seeking treatment for a long time, a feeling of embarrassment can also arise due to what they believe people will perceive about the condition of their teeth or breath. This feeling of judgement can be overwhelming in itself and prevent people from getting the help they need.
There are a variety of ways in which you can work to overcome dental anxiety. Below is a list of helpful strategies commonly used in the treatment of dental anxiety.
The best way to desensitise dental anxiety is through repetition. Like any form of anxiety, the more comfortable you get with getting uncomfortable, the greater reduction you will feel in the severity of your symptoms. The more persistent you are in visiting the dentist, working with a therapist, or creating your own system for tackling your anxiety, the greater the progress you will see in the movement towards a fear-free oral treatment future.
Both dental fear and dental anxiety can be overwhelming for those who experience them. However, they do slightly differ in how they work. Dental fear is something that usually arises within the moment, and is a sudden response from your body, whether it’s an unexpected pain during treatment, the sight of a needle, or something happening that you had not anticipated. While this fear can be rather debilitating in the moment, it is often only a short-term feeling, where a trigger is easily identifiable and the feelings of which usually subside pretty quickly.
Dental anxiety, on the other hand, is significantly more complex. These feelings are usually present way before the individual steps foot into the dental practice, and a trigger can often be hard to decipher. Over time, these sensations/thought-patterns can build up and lead to infrequent or delayed appointments, which can lead to significant issues down the line for those seriously handicapped by dental anxiety.
