DENTAL PHOBIA – PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT

Modern dental Practices  deliver comfortable dental care and go to some lengths in design, training and approach to handle most patients, but there are some who need a specialist psychological approach. This is where I come in, referred by yourself or your dentist or doctor.

I am a National Winner of the Probe Award for the treatment of Dental Phobia and have had a special interest in the psychological treatment of severe dental phobics for over 30 years.

• Your journey begins in a non-clinical environment

The start point of your treatment is for your story to be heard and your needs and wishes  assessed.

The extreme fear caused by dental phobia, may be of all procedures, or specific elements , such as injections, or simply anything placed in the mouth. Each person is different and the most effective approach discussed, decided and agreed.

BEHAVIOUR THERAPY

Behaviour Therapy is the simplest and most straightforward approach. It focuses on treating the symptom -which is Anxiety. Cognitive-Behavioural elements concentrate too on your thought processes, understanding and problem-solving strategies.

It was shown over 60 years ago that if an anxiety-inhibiting response (relaxation) can be made to occur in the presence of the fear producing stimulus (dental) then the bond between them will be weakened.

In practice this means that using advanced methods, you will be taught to produce a deep relaxation response. This will have multiple uses and anxiety-reducing effects in many areas of your life. Once you are able to produce this swiftly for yourself then a well-documented process of words and images breaks down the fear-producing elements of the dental environment.

This is called COUNTER-CONDITIONING or DESENSITISATION.

When it is certain that you can cope, you can be introduced into the dental situation in small steps at your own pace. This gradual exposure with professional support is usually extremely successful.

Eventually, you will develop the confidence to allow your teeth to be viewed and we can decide the way forward together. Some might request dental sedation,  others prefer to experience for themselves how much more easily modern dentistry can be delivered now. Surprise yourself with your new-found abilities, strength and confidence!

For a very small number of phobics Behaviour therapy alone is insufficient to make progress. Psycho-dynamic based Therapy (Insight-based Therapy) is indicated.