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Dental anxiety Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, June 2009.

Answers to questions about overcoming dental anxiety

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

If I have a dental check-up under hypnosis, I'm worried the dentist will do fillings while I'm asleep. How would I know if he/she did?

Hypnosis doesn't actually send you to sleep and you will usually remember the experience of being hypnotised. In addition, your dentist must never do treatment that you haven't agreed to - this is true whether you're hypnotised or not. Therefore, the treatment you have received won't come as a surprise to you.

Explanation

The image of a hypnotist making somebody fall asleep suddenly, or forcing someone to make a fool of him/herself on stage, isn't an accurate reflection of clinical hypnotherapy, which is practised by fully qualified health professionals such as dentists. Rather than being asleep, hypnosis is usually described as being a daydream-like trance, as if you're completely immersed in a book or film.

Your session must be carried out by a fully qualified dentist who has taken further training in hypnotherapy. Your dentist will usually ask you to sign a consent form. This confirms that you understand the risks, benefits and possible alternatives to the procedure and have given your permission for it to go ahead. You are always free to say no or to ask for more information before you make up your mind. If you have agreed to have a check-up only, your dentist isn't allowed to do other treatment without your permission. Being hypnotised doesn't make you agree to anything against your will.

According to the British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis (Scotland), you will usually be able to remember everything that happened while you were hypnotised.

Further information

Sources

  • What is hypnosis. British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis (BSMDH) - Scotland. www.bsmdh-scot.com, accessed 27 February 2009
  • FAQs. The British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis. www.bscah.com, accessed 27 February 2009
  • Consent - what you have a right to expect: a guide for adults. Department of Health. www.dh.gov.uk, accessed 27 February 2009
  • Myths about hypnotherapy. MIND. www.mind.org.uk, accessed 27 February 2009
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I've just had all my fillings done in one session under intravenous sedation because I'm very scared of the dentist. Will I always need to have my treatment done this way?

Not necessarily. This could be an ideal opportunity to try and face your anxiety about going to the dentist because you can be confident that you don't need to have more treatment straight away. It's also possible that if you can look after your teeth well from now on, you may never need such extensive treatment again.

Explanation

Intravenous sedation can be very valuable if you're anxious or have a phobia about having dental treatment. However, it won't necessarily have helped you to address your phobia because you may have been unaware of what happened during the session, and may even have forgotten most of it.

If you want to overcome your fear and would like to be able to go to the dentist for regular check-ups and treatment without sedation, this is an ideal opportunity. Now that much of your dental work has been done, talk to your dentist about what happens next. You may find it helpful to make a few appointments over the following weeks. For example, these appointments could allow you to familiarise yourself with the dental surgery and the staff, learn about brushing and flossing properly or have your teeth polished. You might find this less stressful than you used to because you have had your treatment done already, so you're unlikely to need any more immediately.

If you don't manage to overcome your phobia, it's possible that sedation will continue to be a solution if you need further dental treatment in the future. With regular check-ups and advice on diet and oral hygiene, you should be able to prevent more decay and build up a good relationship with your dentist and hygienist.

Further information

Sources

  • Chestnutt IG, Gibson J. Churchill's pocketbook of clinical dentistry. 3rd ed. Elsevier, 2007
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Where can I find details of dentists who specialise in treating anxious patients? I get worried about even discussing my teeth.

You're not alone in feeling this way, and most people prefer to approach something that they are anxious about at their own pace. Seeking help can be quite daunting, but getting the details of some potential dentists is a positive first step. Then you can contact them when you're ready. There are a few sites on the internet that give details of dentists who specialise in treating anxious patients.

Explanation

The British Dental Association has set up a 'Find a dentist' scheme. This allows you to search for dentists in your area and to find out what special services they offer, such as treating phobic patients, sedation and hypnosis. It's important to remember that some practices may be full and not taking on any new patients.

You could also try looking at a patient group websites. Some of these websites list details of dentists and dental practices that have been recommended by people with similar anxieties to you. It's important to remember that it isn't possible to confirm the accuracy of everything that people write on websites such as these.

Further information

Sources

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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: June 2009

Dental anxiety factsheet

 

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