It's okay to feel
nervous

My fear of the chair started at 18, with a particularly bad experience with a dentist who did not believe me when I said I could feel everything during a root canal. As a result I avoided the dentist for many years, even when I was in pain.

Eventually I had no choice but to go for treatment, however due to my anxiety and distress, I would have full on panic attacks, before I even got in to the dentist chair, I would sit in the waiting room arguing with myself about how ridiculous I was being. During procedures I would hyperventilate and feel claustrophobic, trapped. I knew this was irrational but was unable to modify my behaviour, I was in flight mode looking for the exit.

Then I met my Dentist, Mali, who took the time to listen to me and understand my needs and what I was feeling and took the time to alleviate any worries. Mali talked me through treatment plans, allowed me to get in the chair when I was ready, and talked me through the procedure as it occurred so I knew what was happening as it happened, as this helped me to get through the procedure. They also worked around my needs allowing me to start and stop the process, were possible, giving me a feeling of control over what was happening to me.

I needed a number of larger procedures for which I took medication to calm me, this helped as it stopped the feeling of panic within and allowed me to experience what was actually happening without having to manage my panic at the same time. This allowed me to see that I was in no danger and was feeling no pain.

I admit I still struggle but it is much reduced, I no longer fear the chair and can actually relax in it, which I never thought possible. All because I have a dentist who is kind and supportive and acknowledges that feeling of not being in control and it's negative impact, and who takes the time to listen and care.

Hello,

From before I had a bad dental experience in my teens, and ever since then even the smell of a dental practice was enough to make me feel anxious. When I came to willerby dental care it felt different straight away. The staff had big smiles on their faces and the whole place just felt calmer. What really helped was being given headphones in the chair so I could block out the dental noise with music, something I never thought would make such a difference. Also Dr Mali's kindness and patience made me feel looked after in a way I had not experienced before. For the first time in years I felt like I could actually cope with being at the dentist, and that is because of the atmosphere, and the way I feel Dr Mali cares for me.

Thanks

The team at Willerby Dental Care have really helped me become more comfortable with going to the dentist. Even at the start, it felt impossible, I never wanted to go, actually I only went because the painkillers were no longer stopping the pain. Then I heard the dreaded "root canal". What surprised me most was how painless and calm everything felt during the appointments. They took their time with me, never rushed anything, and always checked how I was feeling. For someone who used to get nervous even thinking about a dental visit, that made a huge difference. Dr Arian recommended me to not drink coffee or tea on the days I need to come to the dentist, for me this made a big difference! Every time I needed treatment, they were explained very clearly and I was given plenty of information about each treatment, so I always knew what was happening and why. Now when I look back, being talked through each step in such a reassuring way helped me relax far more than I expected.

Overall, the whole team made me feel looked after from the moment I walked in, I feel a level of trust I did not think I would ever have with a dental practice 2 years ago. Im always recommend them to friends who want an excellent dentist and a team who truly understand how to care for people.