"To anyone who dreads the dentist as much as I do…"

A dental phobic's story

"To anyone who dreads the dentist as much as I do…"

The following testimonial is long but worth reading.  I received it in 2003 but it is still worth reading if you or someone you know, dreads a dental visit, please read on and then  go to this link.

Background

Marie is a moderate to severely anxious patient. Fearful of needles. We dentists see these people daily.

 Perhaps you are that way inclined too?  We discussed how we might be able to help her, including the option of using Relative Analgesia (Inhalational Sedation / Happy air) at a free,  after-hours (chaperoned) consultation, to discuss her dental fears and offer the alternatives for her.



Her immediate reaction to the mention of "happy air" was - "Oh No!"  I asked what she was saying no to.  " I don't know but I don't want it"  she replied.   I said " What is it that you don't want" ........and so on for a few moments. 

I then said. "You know this happy air is nothing like the old-fashioned gas that puts you to sleep and makes you feel horrid. In fact you would be quite awake but relaxed.
Do you think you would like that ?

"Well the rest as they say, is history.  We arranged a short, no treatment, trial run for her and at a further session began her treatment plan.
  Afterwards she was so grateful and surprised (and told me so) that I asked if she would write a few words to explain to others what she had experienced  Here is what she wrote. More than a few words though..

21st November 2003


To anyone who dreads the dentist as much as I do…..I am a 32yr old Insulin Dependant Diabetic who is petrified of Dentists, not just scared, I’m the sort of person who would do or go through anything else so long as I don’t have to go near a dentist. From an early age I have always hated them, would do anything to get out of going near one, unless I was in agony.  At the age of 18, I had three days and nights of pacing the floor, swirling my mouth with whiskey and eating pain killers like sweeties, anything I could get my hands on to kill the pain.

The result… I stuffed a towel in my mouth and kept forcing the tooth until it gave way, yes I pulled my own tooth, only it was the wrong tooth! Needless to say I had to give in and visit my dentist. It wasn’t a memorable visit!  Since then I have had numerous problems and have done my best to get around them any way I can, so long as I don’t have to get in that chair. 

In December 2002 my teeth started playing up again, after 6 weeks of eating pain killers, again like sweeties I had to admit to myself I needed help, So in January 2003 I started looking for a dentist, I was getting married in June and didn’t want everything spoilt because I was in pain, but I had told myself there was no way I was going to let a dentist near me unless he knocks me out..I found a dentist purely by chance, flicking through the yellow pages, it advertised they could help people with severe phobia’s, with different type of treatment. I thought this is my man he can knock me out and I won’t know a thing about it!

 

We’ll call him Mr. Richard Charon!!   I emailed them first to see if there were going to be able to help me, advised them straight away that I was a diabetic, but this didn’t put them off, Richard and his wife/partner Chris told me not to loose hope,  there are many things that can be done and why not come in for a chat to see how you feel.  

The minute I walked in the door I was greeted by Chris, she was lovely, so kind and reassuring, she knew it had taken a lot for me to even walk up the steps and through the front door.  Then Richard appeared and I braced myself, as I knew he’d want me to sit in that bloody chair!
 
But no, he sat down in reception with me and we just chatted about everything and anything and gradually moved onto my medical history, because I have a disintegrating jaw bone I explained to Richard that I had already lost a number of teeth including my top front ones and in place is a plate.

I am very insecure of this because I was only 23yrs when told I would loose my front teeth and then lost them at 27yrs, as there was nothing more to be done. 

However…The downside of being a diabetic… It’s not safe to be sedated as your blood sugar levels could change dramatically, causing even further problems.  Richard said we could look at the "Happy Air", laughing gas, as I call it,.
He said we could try it out first just to see how I felt, he wouldn’t do any treatment but just wanted me to see how relaxed I could feel.

 

I decided to book my next appointment for the following week, I knew if I left it any longer I would back out.  The day of my treatment dawned and I was petrified, I wasn’t in pain anymore as the infection had been cleared by antibiotics so I thought what the hell, cancel, you don’t need any treatment, your fine, you never have to see them again there’s plenty of dentist’s around. But I sat myself down and thought long and hard about it, these were nice people, a nice dentist you don’t find many who are willing to help you all the way, I was running late so I called and spoke to Chris and explained how nervous I was, she told me not too worry, she would be here when I arrived and would help me all the way.

I walked into reception and Chris instantly knew I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible, she sat me down and promised me I would be ok, she said the gas & air really does work you won’t feel a thing.   She said I’m not lying I’ve had it done myself. Richard came into reception to check I was ok and then brought me into the treatment room, there was no turning back now I was in the dreaded chair! 

 

The little breathing piece was put over my nose and Richard explained how he wanted me to breathe so that he could ensure the equipment was working correctly and that I was receiving what I needed. I felt ok because Richard talked me through everything he did, he explained exactly what would be happening, how I would start to feel. He said you will start to feel nice and warm, like your snug in your bed, your toes may tingle a little bit, which is quite normal.
  I kept on breathing the gas and air and felt, well quite frankly wonderful, Richard could have shoved 10 more needles in my mouth and I couldn’t have cared less, I was so relaxed just lying there. 

My treatment completed Richard said its all over Marie, just lie there and relax, your not receiving any more of the magic mixture just some oxygen to clear your head.  Within a minute or two I was sitting up in That Chair, which was now like my best friend! 



  After a few minutes Richard was right I did feel warm, felt a little floaty aswell not drunk just dreamy but it was a nice feeling, before I knew it the injections had already been done and I had gone through them without screaming, bursting into tears or having a panic attack.


Richard was wonderful, I was very emotional and on the verge of bursting into tears, but he reassured me everything would be OK, we would look at every option possible to find what suited me best. Richard them managed to examine all of my remaining teeth without too much protesting from me.

I felt fantastic, yes my mouth was numb on one side, but hey I had just had a tooth removed. 

Do I still have a fear of Dentists, well probably yes, somewhere deep inside me, it won’t disappear overnight, and no doubt there will still be a few nerves there the next time I have treatment but whilst I know Richard can help me I will happily attend any check up or treatment session needed. So long as my happy gas is their if I need it.

I couldn’t believe it, I told Richard it was amazing stuff and I felt amazing. I walked out to Chris on reception and could have hugged her, she never lied to me, she promised it would be OK and it was.
I felt so good I went back to work in the afternoon although this was against Chris and Richard's advice.

Marie

If you feel that we could help you too, then please go to this link.
or call us on 01635 47757 for a free discussion. Don't wait until you are in dire trouble or dental disaster strikes !

Worth Fighting Through the Snow from Norway

Today I received this wonderful testimonial from a patient who I have only seen once before to discuss her options. She is an ex-pat, living in Norway, who found our details through our website.

Despite the heavy snow, she made her way here the day after her arrival in the UK on Friday last.
We completed her treatment using Twighlight Sleep Sedation on Saturday afternoon, December 18th during heavy snow here inNewbury. Here is her testimonial received this morning 21st December. I'll add her name once I receive her permission.

Dear Chris and Richard,


Just a quick note to say thank you so much for the treatment this afternoon. After about 12 years of avoiding any form of dental treatment, it was well worth fighting through the snow from Norway for my appointment. Trust and confidence are vital components needed to get me through the door of a dental surgery, and you succeeded where many others have failed!


I can now enjoy Christmas free of the constant nagging guilt of knowing I am ignoring my dental health, so thank you both once again. The appointment may have lasted several hours, but it seemed more like ten minutes, and I am blissfully free of any real memories about the treatment itself, which will make the next visit so much easier.

Wishing you both a very God Jul og Godt Nytt År (as they say in our neck of the woods)

Kindest regards,

Sue Budd

PS: added 22nd December

Feel free to use my testimonial.  Once again, many thanks.  I'm now facing another challenge: how to fight my way back through the snow to Norway - unfortunately via Heathrow ... fingers crossed!

So if you or someone you know wants to have an entirely different experience of dental care, why not make it a New Year's resolution?  Pick up the phone and speak to Chris Charon on 01635 47757 to arrange a FREE consultation over coffee WITH NO DENTAL CHECK-UP to discuss your requirements.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a Smiley New Year

From Zero to Hero(ine)- A dental phobic's odyssey.

Here is a terrific testimonial from one of the two people mentioned in my last blog post. Here is what she had to say in her own words after her visit to us at Newbury Smilemakers.... I have added some links where I felt you might like to know more.

"I just want to say a really BIG Thank you to Richard and yourself as I think I am now cured of my dentist phobia !!!

Testimonial -
Happy Gas Rules is all I can say !!! I have gone from being a total Dentist Phobic to being able to sit in the chair and have a tooth out totally PAINLESSLY in 5 sessions !!!

At the age of 34 I had only been to one private dentist once since primary school as was just so scared, and a total nervous wreck when it came to going.  I couldn't even sit in the chair and would start hyperventilating and boo my eyes out but now at the age of 37 I am a total convert and am actually looking forward to my next session.

This is all because I found Richard and Chris via a website search regarding Nervous patients, up they popped and I gave them a call. The first session I couldn't even sit in the chair but they were fine with this and made me feel totally at ease. We then arranged another session where no work was done just a total check up / photos and xrays. My third appointment was to have a trial of the Happy Gas, boy is this good stuff. You are totally conscious and coherent throughout but it just totally relaxes you and although you are aware of what is going on you're just not really that bothered and time flies by so quickly.

My 4th session was because although I had all this done I then left it a year and a half as I didn't have any pain so did not see the point in going, called them with chronic toothache. I have now had my fifth visit and
because I had left it so long I have had to have the tooth out, I could kick myself as it is my own fault. If I had kept going it would have just been a filling. On this 5th session I had a filling and a tooth out and can
honestly say I did not feel a thing and although I was in there nearly an hour it only felt like 5 minutes and all totally painless to boot.

If you are a total Dentist phobic, very nervous, anxious and cry like a baby just like me then please go and see them as they will totally sort you out and actually make your dental experiences an enjoyable one !!

Please feel free to manipulate this text as you feel necessary as not sure if all of it will fit on your website.

Very Best wishes to you both and your assistants

Suzy :)

One VERY HAPPY PATIENT !!! "

Suzy Lovitt
Accounts Assistant
Orion Pharma (UK) Ltd

"R.A." changes people's perception of dentistry

The power of "R.A." to change people's perception of dentistry

I'd love to share two recent stories from Newburysmilemaker's patients whose future dental care has indeed been transformed by the "Happy Air" sedation service we have used for very many years.
Story 1
We were contacted by the mother of a 10 year old who needed to have two good baby teeth removed to help relieve his crowded row of teeth.
His own dentist had tried to do the necessary but the whole session ended in tears and upset and had to be abandoned.
His Mum found as after a Google search for dentists experienced in helping anxious people and was happy t travel 25 miles to see us. On his first visit we just sat and chatted with the young chap and his Mum in the patient lounge area to hear their story and explain how we could help offering a "test drive"of the "Happy Air" next time.
On the second visit we carried out the planned dry run, letting our 10 yr old sit in the dental chair, with his mouth shut tight and breathing the happy air for a few minutes to experience the nice feeling of relaxation, warmth and cosiness it provides and starting to regain his confidence. He then left having had a positive experience.  He returned about a week or so later, full of confidence to have the two baby teeth popped out using the happy air. He was completely relaxed and the whole session passed off completely uneventfully. I expect to be receiving a nice testimonial soon. I'm so pleased that we were able to prevent this chap from becoming a dental phobic.
Story 2
Last Friday we saw a lady who we saw for the first time several weeks earlier with severe toothache and with a great fear of dentistry. Through floods of tears and trepidation, we did manage to treat the toothache using Happy Air Sedation. However her tooth was cracked in a way that was unsalvageable.
She came back to see us, having come to realised that what she had feared was nowhere near a bad as she had feared. We did a filling and removed the tooth that had to go, without the slightest sign of fear or tears.
She left with a beaming smile She was just so pleased with herself. Returning to the patient lounge, her partner was totally incredulous that she was relaxed and smiling. Another terrific result !
If I can help you or someone you know, to experience fear free dentistry please contact us.
At present this method is probably available in no more than 15% of dental practices in the UK and Ireland and the courses I run is helping to increase its availability for anxious dental patients,

Please call 01635 47757 and speak to Chris for freindly and helpful advice

All you need to know about Dental Sedation

For the anxious dental patient:

What we can offer you

All you need to know about

Dental Sedation

but were afraid to ask!

Patients from Norway, Canada and Khazakstan !

On Saturday last I received an interesting e-mail from a lady who once lived in Newbury but now lives in Norway. She has sought me out via my website. She is anxious about dental treatment but has not been able to find a Norwegian dentist to help her. So she will treck from Norway to see me in Newbury, no doubt combining a visit to freinds or family but still ...

We also see several other ex-pats. One from Spain, over this weekend for a horse show in Birmingham needed some running repairs on Staurday. Another couple who now live and work in France are currently under tretament.

For some years I had a US citizen who would e-mail us from Khazakstan, where he spent much time, for an appointment and also an English lady working for an oil company who comes in from Canada to see us.

Within the UK we have regular visits from ex- Newbury folk who live

• On the Isle of Skye,
• In Norwich,
• Nr Taunton,
• In North Wales
• In Bristol and
• In Kent.

It never ceases to amaze me but we must be doing something right.

So if you know someone who would benefit from our very personal and friendly approach, whilst maintaining high standards of dentistry, whether for Smile makeovers or for successful anxiety management please feel free to pass on our details:

http://www.newburydentist.co.uk/
http://www.newburydentalphobia/

Afraid of the dentist?

I am Newbury’s foremost expert in successfully helping anxious dental patients to achieve the great smile they would love to have.

I have developed a national reputation and with over 30 years of experience in the field, I teach and mentor other dentists from all over the UK and Ireland on how they can help overcome their patient’s fear of the dentist. Other dentists also refer some of their nervous patients to me too.

We have a highly experienced team and offer a very personal and relaxed ambiance at our Private Dental Practice located on the first floor of St. Mary’s House at 55-6 in Cheap Street in Newbury, just 2 minutes from the railway station and less than one hour from Paddington !

If you know anyone who hates dental visits then I am certain we can help.
Please take time to visit www.newburydentist.co.uk and read the many terrific testimonials and detailed stories by some of our patients in their own words !