By Dr. Laura Kearney
What is Dental Phobia and Dental Anxiety?
Dental phobia, or fear of the dentist, is something many patients face. This dental fear could stem from a negative experience at a dental office, fear of pain, an embarrassment about teeth appearance, or a number of other causes. Overcoming this dental anxiety is highly recommended to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile.
Below are a few coping techniques that we recommend. These skills will help ease your dental phobia at your next appointment:
- Ask Questions — At Dr. Laura Kearney we encourage all patients to speak up and feel free to ask any questions. We make a point to explain the process so patients are aware of the treatment and services we will be providing.
- Discuss Any Fears — Please let us know if you are feeling uncomfortable or anxious when you arrive at the office. Once we understand your fears, we can better assist to making you more comfortable.
- Use a Distraction — We play fun music at our office to calm your nerves and make patients more relaxed. Please feel free to bring your own device and listening material.
- Discuss a hand signal — Choose and share a hand signal you can make to Dr. Laura Kearney or one of our staff members in case you need to take a break during your dental treatment.
We understand how some dental phobic patients may feel about their dental visits and how we can make a big difference by providing a non-threatening, relaxing, and comfortable environment. At Dr. Laura Kearney we work to ensure you have a positive dental experience. Our entire team is dedicated to giving you an excellent, personalized service and treatment to make your visits as smooth and pleasant as possible.
Read what some of our patients had to say:
“I’m one of those people that dreads going to the dentist. Dr. Laura Kearney is very gentle, kind, and patient — he makes it easy to trust him. He’s so good at explaining what he is going to do so I can know what to expect.”
“My first dental appointment with Dr. Laura Kearney couldn’t have gone better! He was thorough, took his time, answered my questions, was very upfront and honest, eased my anxiety, and played good music! I have been searching for a dentist in Raleigh and I’ve finally found one! His staff and office are very welcoming and make you feel right at home!”
“ Dr. Laura Kearney was very gentle and explained all the options that I had with no pressure. I was very scared when I got there but actually everything moved smoothly. I had never gone to a dentist that I didn’t feel pain. He and his staff were awesome and they respect and do care for their patients. Thank you for everything.”
“I was really pleased with Dr. Laura Kearney and his entire staff. The office was beautiful, in a safe place and very convenient to my house. They were all extremely competent and professional. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to the dentist and my mouth was a mess. I was so ashamed and they all made me feel comfortable. We had an excellent rapport. Dr. Laura Kearney had a wonderful sense of humor. I didn’t have time to be ashamed or afraid because he kept me laughing. The dental assistant was kind and gentle and so was the office manager. She managed all of the details, so I knew exactly what I was doing and I didn’t have to worry about the small stuff. They were upfront about the finances and they all worked together very well. They really took away my fear of going to the dentist.”
“Like the other reviewers, I can’t say enough about what a change (and a relief) it was to finally have a good experience with a dentist. I had been terrorized by painful dentist trips in the past and was reluctant to go in for even something as routine as cleanings. Dr. Laura Kearney did an awesome job of making me comfortable and answered all of my questions with patience. He actually seems to care about his work unlike so many of the “factories” in the medical and dental field now. I found my regular dentist!”
Continue reading more great reviews of Dr. Laura Kearney and staff on our Patient Praise page of the website.
