Nervous Patients, Lanark: Nervous of the Dentist?
Feeling anxious about seeing a dentist? At our Lanark practice, your first appointment can simply be a chat, with no treatment and nothing expected of you. From then on, the pace is yours. We'll tell you what each step involves before we do it, we stop as soon as you give the signal, and if you need extra help with treatment, IV sedation is available.Start with a conversation. You choose the pace, you can stop us whenever you like, and IV sedation is available for treatment.
Phoning feels like too much? Send us a WhatsApp instead, sharing only what you're comfortable with.
Our Approach with Anxious Patients
The same simple routines at every visit, so nothing takes you by surprise and you always have a way out.
Talk First, Chair Later
Your first visit can take place sitting up, face to face. Explain what scares you and what you'd like us to help with; nothing more happens unless you want it to.
Everything Explained First
Before each stage, we tell you what you'll feel, what you might hear and roughly how long it will last. Nothing is sprung on you, and no instruments appear unannounced.
A Signal to Stop, Respected
We'll settle on a signal together before starting, often lifting a hand. The moment you give it, we stop, without finishing off what we were doing and without asking you to bear it a little longer.
Planned Pauses
Longer appointments include regular rests, giving you a chance to sit up, close your mouth, drink some water or catch your breath. Need another break? Just ask.
Gentle, Unhurried Numbing
A numbing gel goes on the gum before any injection. We then give the anaesthetic gradually, as going slowly is the key to comfort, and confirm the area is numb before we begin.
Sedation for Treatment
If you're having fillings, extractions or implant treatment, IV sedation helps you feel deeply calm. Each session costs £500, and a responsible adult needs to take you home.
Your First Visit, in Stages
At any of these points you're free to stop and leave. Many people do exactly that, then return when they feel ready.
Get in Touch Your Way
Let us know you're nervous or haven't been for some time. A family member or friend is welcome to contact us on your behalf. We'll add a note to your file, so you won't need to repeat yourself when you arrive.
A Conversation
We'll introduce ourselves and ask about past experiences and your biggest worries. Keep your coat on and your feet on the ground if you like. If that's all you want from the visit, that's fine.
A Look, Only If You're Happy
Once you feel ready, we'll take a gentle look using a small mirror and describe what we find in everyday language. There's no lecture and no catalogue of problems.
A Plan That Suits You
Together we decide what comes first (normally anything painful), how long appointments should be and whether sedation might help. You'll have every fee in writing before treatment begins.
Small Things That Help
A Long Time Away?
Lots of our patients return to the dentist after a decade or two. It happens far more often than people imagine, and we won't make you feel guilty.
Neglected teeth can usually be put right more easily than people expect. We'll deal with any pain first and tackle everything else at a pace that feels manageable.
Worried about what we'll think of your teeth? Our dentists see all sorts of mouths daily. What matters to us is making you comfortable, not how things got this way.
Six Common Fears
Sound familiar? Tell us when you book, and we'll plan your visit with it in mind.
Injections
We use numbing gel, a very fine needle and slow delivery, so most people notice little more than a slight pinch. Some small fillings don't need an injection at all.
The Noise of the Drill
That high whine bothers most people. Headphones make a difference, and we'll warn you each time it starts and stops so nothing catches you out.
Hurting
Before treatment begins, we make sure you're numb. If you feel anything sharp, raise your hand and we'll stop, top up the anaesthetic and give it time to work. You're entitled to be properly numb.
Feeling Closed In
Many people find it hard to lie back with someone leaning over them. Sit up any time you want; your stop signal keeps you in charge.
Being Judged
That won't happen. Whatever we find, we'll explain it simply and focus on how to fix it, not on how it came about.
Unexpected Bills
No one wants a shock when paying. You'll receive a written plan listing every fee before any treatment, and you decide what goes ahead.
For Severe Anxiety: IV Sedation
A small, soft tube is placed in a vein in your arm or the back of your hand, and the sedative is given through it. You remain conscious and able to respond, yet very relaxed; time seems to pass quickly and you'll probably remember little of the treatment afterwards. This is not a general anaesthetic, and we still numb the tooth as normal.
Sedation isn't right for everyone, so we review your medical history beforehand. You'll need a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. For 24 hours afterwards, don't drive, drink alcohol or sign anything important. We use sedation for treatment only, not for routine dental examinations.
More about IV sedation| First examination as a new patient, X-rays included | £70 |
| IV sedation, one session | £500 |
| Every extra half hour of sedation | £250 |
| 30-minute hygienist appointment | £70 |
You'll find treatment prices in our fee list and your written treatment plan. 1
Questions
First steps, panic and being sedated.
For Anxious Patients
Sending a Message Is the Hard Part
Just a line or two will do: tell us what bothers you and when you last went. We'll come back with a gentle first step, which might only be a conversation.