Scared of the dentist? That’s over now!
It is not uncommon to be afraid of going to the dentist. These fears resemble a vicious circle which, once you are caught in it, is very difficult to break. A guilty conscience, because oral hygiene is not at its best, and the fear of the treatment, which is certainly necessary in the meantime, strengthen the desire not to go to the dentist “for the time being”. The step to finally dare to visit the dentist is thus becoming more and more distant. Patients, who shy away from a visit to the dentist for fear, never get the chance to make good experiences.
Instead, they wait until the pressure, pain and the burdening feeling becomes so strong that they have no choice. These fears and the resulting pressure are the reason why the practice of Prof. Dr. Bender specialized in helping anxiety patients to get out of their vicious circle.
Our practice offers a comprehensive service that is tailored to the needs of particularly sensitive patients. In order to be able to take a clear step even before the first visit and to cope with the fear in the first instance, a telephone help service was therefore set up in cooperation with the alternative practitioner Benedikt van Almsick, which serves as the first point of contact for anxiety patients. During an empathetic conversation, patients have the opportunity to prepare for their visit to the dental practice of Prof. Dr. Bender. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9 and 10 a.m. this support can be called on (0221) 46 78 01 47. If necessary, additional helpful options can be discussed during this conversation, such as hypnosis against the fears of the person concerned.
Unnecessary stress and also the feared pain are a thing of the past thanks to modern technology and the clear specialisation in anxiety patients. To ensure that every patient feels completely comfortable, both the detailed consultation and the constant accompaniment through the treatments are a matter of course. The concerns and needs of each patient are dealt with intensively and sensitively, whereby fears are nipped in the bud as far as possible. The reasons are obvious in view of current studies: the percentage of extremely anxious patients is extremely high. Three out of four patients are afraid of dental treatment. It is important never to forget that the reasons for this are usually based on bad experiences. Whether experienced by oneself or witnessed in one’s immediate surroundings: If visits to the dentist are inevitably associated with pain in the immediate vicinity, this may be due to the common practices of past times, but today it is no longer true. However, both techniques and treatment methods have developed enormously in recent years – very much to the benefit of the patient.
The topic of dental health is becoming increasingly important in society. Based on this, the methods and possibilities for dental treatment have been enormously optimised and are increasingly based on the patient feeling comfortable and not having to endure unnecessary pain. Also from the field of psychology, new findings are constantly being incorporated into the treatment and handling of anxiety patients. Doctors are now aware that even small and seemingly insignificant uncertainties can develop into enormous fears if they are not directly eliminated. Modern dentists therefore develop sensitivity and skill in dealing with people, just like in any other professional field that deals directly with people. Starting with both qualified and individual education, they convey information and at the same time take away fears by bringing the uncertainties closer. In doing so, the emphasis is on a cautious approach, especially with children. If fears already exist, they can be allayed by explaining exactly what to expect in the treatment chair. Instruments must be made accessible to the patient and knowledge of the pain that untreated caries can cause helps children to understand what happens during an examination and the treatments.
