You’re Not Alone

There are plenty of things in life that are genuinely scary: spiders, turbulence, opening the selfie camera by accident.

And then there’s the dentist.

For some people, making a dental appointment is just an item on their to-do list. For others, the idea of sitting in a dental chair can cause serious stress.

Your brain knows you are going to a dental office, not into actual danger, but your nervous system has decided differently.

Dental fear is very common, but it doesn’t have to win. Whatever the reason, you don’t need to feel embarrassed about being scared. We’re here to help you through your next visit – it’s what we do.

Your Brain Has a Long Memory

Fear has a funny way of sticking around.

Sometimes it’s the sound of the equipment, the smell of the office, or the thought of someone working inside your mouth and the expectation to sit perfectly still while it’s happening. And sometimes the fear is just not knowing what’s going to happen next.

That is a lot to carry into an appointment, especially if you have been avoiding dental care for a while. The longer you put it off, the bigger the appointment can become in your head, until just scheduling a cleaning feels like a major event.

You Don’t Have to Pretend You’re Not Nervous

Being afraid of the dentist doesn’t mean you don’t care about your teeth or that you’re irresponsible. It just means something about dental care makes you uncomfortable, and that is useful information for your dental team to have.

Let us make it a little easier on you.

At Advance Dentistry, your first visit is free. It’s a chance to meet the team, have an exam and X-rays, and talk about your dental needs before deciding what happens next.

Sometimes knowing that you can simply come in, talk things through, and see what your options are, makes things a lot easier. You can ask your questions, tell us what makes you nervous, and we’ll figure out the care that makes sense for you.

Some Patients Need A Little More

Sometimes, a little time and a conversation can make dental care much easier. For others, the anxiety is still pretty significant; Advance Dentistry offers IV sedation for these patients.

Medication is administered through an IV, and you are monitored throughout the appointment. It allows you to be relaxed and unaware of the sights and sounds of the dental work. When the appointment is over, you wake up and the dental work is DONE.

You Don’t Have to Be Fearless to Come

You don’t actually have to overcome your fear before you get dental care. No one expects you to wake up one day and announce that you’re no longer afraid of the dentist, and schedule an appointment for Thursday.

You can be nervous and still make an appointment. You can tell your dental team that you are anxious, ask questions, take some time to get comfortable with the office and the people taking care of you.

And if you need sedation, we can talk about that option. We’d never try to force you through an experience that feels overwhelming. It’s not a bravery contest – it’s about getting you the care that you need, in a way that feels good.

Maybe It’s Time 

You may never become the person who gets excited about a dental appointment (do those exist?), and that’s ok. Nobody is handing out trophies for enthusiasm about fluoride.

What matters is finding care where you feel comfortable and heard. We’ve spent years helping nervous patients get the dental care they need, and we know a thing or two about making a scary appointment feel a lot less scary.

You don’t have to figure out how to do this alone. We’re here for you.