They paused for a minute, pondered, and then said something I thought gave quite a good insight into dealing with anxiety. “That sounds a lot like being nervous to me!”

A visit to the dentist also has two interpretations – to some it is nothing more trying than a routine by which to maintain dental hygiene, to others it is a nerve-wracking situation to be avoided at all costs.

So if you are anxious and dread your annual visit, there are a number of ways you can help to manage anxiety when going to the dentist.

1. Tell them that you are an anxious patient – trying to hide your feelings will often make them more intense. Staff are usually very experienced in dealing with nervous patients and will be both sympathetic and eager to make the situation as pleasant as possible for you.

2. Nerves and anxiety are heightened when we continually run an image or scenario in our heads – doing something to ‘break’ this state can help enormously. Moving locations, going for a walk or doing something you enjoy before heading for your appointment can all help lessen the dread.

3. Being outdoors tends to move people into the Beta brain wave state – a ‘zone’ which is naturally more relaxed than being indoors, staring at the walls and focusing on the appointment. So, if you’re nervous, a walk around the block a few times beforehand can be hugely calming.

4. Touch your fourth (ring) finger to your thumb on both hands and breathe slowly and rhythmically. This is a yoga breathing technique which will help ease your mind and calm your body.

5. Smile! It sounds strange, but sometimes looking up and smiling can help pull you out of an unpleasant emotional state – body language and posture play a decisive role in controlling how you feel.

6. Research your dentist carefully. Look at pictures of the surgery and treatment rooms. When you lack knowledge or visual data your subconscious mind will intervene and think of things that will increase your anxiety. It is YOUR fear, after all, so YOUR imagination will be perfectly placed to think the worst. When you have definite knowledge (of the decor, of the staff uniform, of your dentist’s face) you will be better prepared and in a good position to feel in control. This will help you to deal more calmly with the situation.

If you follow these simple points you can help manage your anxiety a little better. Remember, no single technique is a guaranteed curative, but people who have become accomplished at managing their nervous state often use a range of these ‘tricks’ to to help keep calm

www.benjamincook.co.uk
Benjamin Cook is an NLP Practitioner and Hypnotherapist in Glasgow specialising in weight loss, phobia cure, smoking cessation and personal coaching. Please ask for more details of his services available at Bath Street Dental Practice.

There  is obviously some preparatory work that has to be carried out before the implants can be placed, as you can imagine the amount of bone the patient will have lost over the years, but after full head x-rays were taken and some study models cast, the patient and Mr Maguire are more than happy to go ahead with the work.

We have had 2 Implant patient & 5 Cerec patients!!

Well its Friday & we are all looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend!!!!!

Shes been looking forward to this for almost a year & now it has finally come!!!

Kerri is Mr John Wrights nurse & he is going to miss her her,even though shes only away for 2 weeks!!! So have fun Kerri & dont miss work too much!! lol

We had a lovely patient booked in at 9am today who is under going some cosmetic work done with our fabulous dentist Mr Jamie Maguire.Mr Maguire & his fantastic nurse Maxine worked very hard & made the patient feel relaxed  at ease whilst having her preperations done for her new crowns & bridges & will return next week to continue with treatment.

We look forward to seeing the result!!

We had a lovely gentleman who came in to us today looking for our help,he had some toothache that had been bothering him for a few days.

He was so delighted with the fabulous service that we had provided him with that he decided he would like to register with our practice as a private patient.He had a full consultation done when he was in this morning & is happy with the quality of our work that he is now going ahead with a full cosmetic treatment plan,which will commence next week,his work ranges from crowns,veneers & an implant in the near future.

We always welcome new patient & are happy to provide with our service!!!

We are delighted

She has been at the practice for a good few years now and is a very popular dentist. She does all treatments in the practice including Cerec and the very popular Enlighten tooth Whitening.

She is raising a young family so at present only works 2 days per week which alwayd ensures that she is very busy !

25 members of staff living it up at the Glasgow Hilton !

Cannot belive that now that the schools are going back in Scotland it really is now the run up to Christmas. People are already starting to enquire about gift vouchers for presents.

Our Ultimate tooth whitening package “Enlighten” seems to be on the top of folks Christmas wish lists. We have had a great response in regards to this package and more patients than ever are opting for this rather than  other whitening systems we have on offer.

The good thing is that once the patient sees the fantastic results the Enlighten produces  they more often than not want to go ahead with other cosmetic treatment.

Veneers are another best seller at Christmas. With our Cerec veneers patients are able to walk out of the surgery on the same day with a whole new smile.

At least we have a few days off after all that hard work to recuperate !

He has to get rid of his one tooth partial denture and have an implant placed !

He has had his initial consultation with Dr Greig McLean and after having study models made and an OPT radiograph taken the prognosis looks good and the implant is being placed on Saturday.

Our receptionist is over the moon, and even though the final crown restoration won’t be placed for about another 3-4 months, she is glad she has a man with a full set of teeth !