Poll Finds Impact of Dental Anxiety on Brits

dental treatment under general anaesthesia

Dental anxiety means more than just being a bit nervous about visiting the dentist. It can have a profound impact on your oral health and overall wellbeing. Recently, a leading UK dental law firm conducted a large-scale survey into the problem of dental anxiety.

Ninety-one per cent of those surveyed found they had experienced some of the following signs of anxiety – almost half experienced feelings of dread, a quarter suffered from a dry mouth, sweating or feeling sick and 15% had heart palpitations.

They were also asked what they specifically disliked about going to the dentist. Fear of pain, cost of treatment, needles and sound of drilling were all listed. People from Wales and the South West were particularly bothered by bad memories of a previous experience.

These bad experiences can be the result of experiencing pain or discomfort either during or after a dental procedure. Twenty-nine per cent stated that the dentist didn’t put them at ease.

Here at CK Dental, we are highly experienced at treating nervous patients and our practice is unique in offering both dental treatments both under sedation and general anaesthetic.

Dental treatment under general anaesthesia

Treatment can only be performed under a general anaesthetic in a hospital environment. CK Dental is located with the Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield in Clifton, making it one of the few dental practices in the UK that are able to offer dental treatment under general anaesthesia.

For severely dental phobic patients, this option represents the difference between being wholly incapable of visiting the dentist and being able to have a much-needed dental procedure. It is ideal for patients that have not found they are able to relax enough under conscious sedation to undergo treatment.

By providing this care in a hospital environment, you will be looked after by our anaesthetist, our lead dentist and a specially trained dental nurse and you will be further supported by the medical team available at the hospital.

For more information on the treatment options we offer dental phobic patients, including dental treatment under general anaesthesia, call 0117 905 9866.

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Feeling anxious about seeing a dentist? We can offer a little bit of gentle reassurance

dental anxiety treatments

If you have reservations about visiting the dentist then you are not alone, this is more common than you might think. Many of us are nervous about visiting a dental environment, which can present itself as fear, stress or general anxiety. For some, this nervousness can mean that we put off visiting or find excuses to delay routine check-ups. This can lead to long-term problems with your oral health, so it is important to try and find a way of getting past these fears.

The fact that you are here reading this piece is a positive sign – it indicates that despite your concerns you are looking for a way to overcome this in order to ensure you are giving your teeth, mouth and gums the specialist attention they require.

Depending on the severity of your dental anxiety, the symptoms may present themselves in a psychological or physical way – many will have a combination of these. Aside from the worry that is causing the problem in the first place, those with dental anxiety may demonstrate some or all of the following symptoms:

  • Sweating more than usual
  • Feeling faint (maybe even actually fainting)
  • Faster than normal heartbeat
  • Chest palpitations (brought on by the fast heartbeat)
  • Overt distress and unease
  •  Feeling or acting snappy/irritable/agitated

Here at CK Dental, we understand that even one of these symptoms is extremely unpleasant, and two or more can feel debilitating. With that in mind, it is no wonder that people’s anxiety can make them feel unable to attend their appointments.

How to address the problem of dental anxiety

The first thing to understand is the implications of allowing dental anxiety to stand in the way of your appointments. Your oral health will begin to suffer over time without regular check-ups. If you develop a problem with your teeth, mouth or gums, then if it is addressed quickly there is a greater chance that it will not develop into something more serious.

Not only that, if you allow your anxiety to keep you away from the dentist then it becomes a ‘vicious cycle’ – once you miss one appointment is it easier to miss another and another. The longer you stay away the harder it will be when you really need to see a dentist.

There are many ways in which we can help you overcome your concerns about visiting the dentist, so why not pop in for a relaxed and informal chat with staff ahead of your appointment to help put you at ease. Staff will be able to talk you through some of the techniques we use here at CK Dental to help patients feel at ease. Not only that, we really listen to our patients to understand what their concerns are. If we understand what is troubling you then we can work hard to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

We also offer dental treatment under sedation and dental treatment under general anaesthetic. General anaesthesia can only be administered in a hospital environment and CK Dental, which is located within Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, is one of the few dental clinics in the UK that are able to offer this procedure.

Call us on 0117 905 9866 to arrange a consultation to discuss treatment options for dental phobic patients.

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What can cause dental phobia and what can be done to help?

dental phobia options

Feeling nervous about visiting the dentist is something that can affect children or adults and it can stem from a wide variety of factors. Depending on the root cause of the problem and the age of the patient, different tools and techniques can be tried out in order to try and offer the necessary reassurance to overcome this.

If a child has had a bad dental experience while young (for example having a tooth knocked out and needing treatment, having an oral injection that caused pain) then the memory of this may remain with them into adulthood.

For adults, the cause of dental phobia may be due to a number of reasons:

  • A very common reason for these feelings is due to the perceived lack of control in the situation, some patients report feeling vulnerable in the dentist’s chair which leaves them feeling agitated and anxious
  • Some struggle to trust dentists (and possibly other medical practitioners too)
  • Some may also have had a negative experience in the past which has left them ill at ease with dentistry in general,
  • Others may have suffered from a head or neck injury which has left them feeling uncomfortable with the positioning required for the dentist to access their mouth, or just generally concerned with having more treatment in that area,
  • If there is another condition that patients are suffering with (such as acrophobia or claustrophobia) then this can compound the issue.

Encouragingly, many adults who have suffered from dental anxiety in the past report that finding a dentist who is understanding and sympathetic to their feelings helps enormously in terms of finding a way to overcome how they feel. Here at CK Dental our team appreciates the challenges that anxiety can cause patients and we are here to help in any way we can.

Looking at dental phobia coping methods

There are many tips and techniques that can be utilised to try and mitigate these feelings. Taking deep, rhythmic breaths can help slow down your heartbeat and help you feel more in control. This will also help reduce sweating and the feeling of palpitations caused by a racing heartbeat. Distractions are also an effective technique. Trying to focus the mind on something completely different can really help take your mind off your worries. Many patients suggest listing to music, audiobooks or podcasts; all of which are a good source of distraction in this situation.

If all else fails, then speaking to your GP about a referral to a psychologist can really help. Techniques such as CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) can help you understand more about what it is that is causing you so much concern, and experts can help with bespoke coping techniques.

Another option is dental treatment under sedation. Referred to sometimes as ‘twilight sedation’, conscious sedation involves putting the patient into a semi-conscious state that allows them to be comfortable throughout their treatment, whether it be a simple cleaning or a more invasive, lengthy dental procedure.

Here at CK Dental practice in Bristol, we are also one of the very few dental practices in the UK to offer dental treatment under general anaesthetic. General anaesthesia can only be administered in a hospital environment, which is why CK Dental, which is located within Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, The Chesterfield in Clifton, is perfectly placed to offer this service.

Call us on 0117 905 9866 to arrange a consultation to discuss treatment options for dental phobic patients.

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Understanding more about dental implants

Bristol dental implants

Having a missing tooth, or more than one missing tooth, can be problematic in many ways. Not only can it affect confidence and leave people feeling unable or unwilling to smile properly, but it can also affect how people eat and speak as well.

If you are embarrassed by missing, broken or crooked teeth then you may be considering dental implants. Many of us have implants, in fact, they are so discrete that you would probably struggle to notice an implant nesting within someone’s smile.  As such, they are a popular, effective way of fixing some of the unsightly oral issues that some of us are grappling with.

An implant is inserted in place of a missing tooth. The tooth may have fallen out or you may agree with your dentist that it is best to remove a tooth and replace it with an implant. The ‘root’ of the implant is a screw which is fitted directly into the jaw bone and then the implant itself is attached to the screw. It is typically made of titanium, which is one of the strongest, non-corrosive metals. Over time the jaw bone will also grow around the screw, which holds it in place even more firmly. As such, within reason and with the correct care, this is a permanent solution to the problem.

There is plenty of advice that patients will be given by your dentist to help the implants bed in as effectively as possible in the hours following the surgery. There is a special antiseptic mouthwash that patients would need to use initially (morning and night) to ensure that the area remains free from infection. Also, they would be advised to wash with an oral salt bath after meals for the first week or so. Never the nicest thing to do, but salt is extremely effective at

Strong patient satisfaction

Overwhelmingly patients are delighted with implants. They address the aesthetic issue and offer a long-term fix that blends in very effectively with the natural teeth.

If this sounds like the kind of procedure that could help you achieve a more satisfying smile, then get in touch with the team here at CK Dental to talk through the options available to you. Call 0117 905 9866 to arrange a consultation.

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Save a smile this new year

Bristol Dentist

As we look forward to the new year – and with it our new year’s resolutions – the Oral Health Foundation is keen to encourage us to donate to the Save a Smile appeal, a charity which aims to help educate and inspire people to take better care of their oral hygiene.

As with all charities, the resources they need, the material they use, the ways in which they can share their messages and advice; all tale time and money to facilitate effectively. And that’s where you come in. Many people haven’t heard of the Save and Smile appeal, so here at Bristol dentist CK Dental we wanted to do our bit to help raise awareness of this worthy cause.

Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation Dr Nigel Carter explains that each donation “can help fund some of the programmes, campaigns and resources that provide everyone with the tools they need to properly take care of their oral health.” Dr Carter goes on to explain: “In 2020, we will focus on giving these issues the urgent attention they require to help improve the quality of life for millions. But we cannot do that without you.”

What can your donation help achieve?

Just a modest donation can help the Save a Smile charity produce leaflets and information that can be shared with community groups, educating about how to achieve and maintain a healthy smile. A larger donation enables community outreach care such as home visits to patients suffering from serious oral illness such as mouth cancer or can help produce materials that can be used to educate young people in our schools and colleges. A substantial donation can help the charity provide larger level education for patients in the greatest need, such as the elderly or those who have complicated medical needs and as such, need a different approach to help get these important messages across.

Whatever you feel willing and able to donate, your help will be welcome. And as many of us look to the new year as a way of giving something back after the inevitable excesses of Christmas, we wanted to help spread the word of the good work this charity is doing.

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New guidelines released for what children should be drinking

Bristol family dentistry

According to new research published recently, youngsters should only be drinking water or milk up until they are five years of age, due to the damage that regularly consuming other drinks can do to their teeth. According to the Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids research, drinking things other than milk and water doesn’t only affect children’s teeth, but can negatively affect other areas of their health and overall well-being as well.

There are a number of concerns with other drinks, even those that are marketed especially as being for children, but the sugar content is the concern that keeps rearing its head. In fact, “a panel of scientists have issued the new nutritional guidelines which suggest children should not be given any drink with sugar or other sweeteners in it.”

Here at CK Dental in Bristol, we concur with the report’s conclusion that the nutritional benefits that a combination of milk and water can bring, means there is no need to consume other drinks at all.

Benefits of milk

Milk is what children begin drinking when they are first born and there is a very good reason that parents are encouraged to keep milk in their children’s diet for as long as possible. Full fat milk is packed with good calories, calcium which helps bones and teeth and also important proteins. There are a variety of other vitamins and minerals found within milk that help their bodies and minds develop.

Benefits of water

Water is one of the few drinks which does not contain acidity, therefore it is not damaging tooth enamel. As well as the hydration credentials of water, there are no calories and no sugar in water, so it really can do children no harm at all.

Some parents hold the misconception that as long as they are brushing their children’s teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste then it doesn’t matter too much if they are drinking sugary drinks. Although following a thorough oral hygiene routine is definitely recommended, it cannot guarantee to fix all problems associated with the consumption of sugary drinks.

Some of the damage will start to take place between meals, so brushing at the start of the day and before bed will only be able to help so much.

For more advice on good oral health for children, call 0117 905 9866 to book an appointment at our Bristol family dentistry clinic.

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Taking action on mouth cancer

mouth cancer

Last month was Mouth Cancer Action Month, an awareness-raising initiative which aims to educate people more about mouth cancer and also help prevent and treat the disease.

According to the Oral Health Foundation, as many as 8,300 people in the UK each year are diagnosed with mouth cancer. This number is increasing year on year and is responsible for more deaths than testicular cancer and cervical cancer combined. The difference, however, is that both cervical cancer and testicular cancer have benefitted from some very effective awareness-building activity, which has really helped educate individuals about what to look out for in terms of symptoms. Mouth Cancer Action Month hopes to raise awareness of mouth cancer in a similar way.

In terms of awareness building, as with many nasty illnesses, the sooner you detect that something isn’t quite right, the sooner you can get it checked out – and if necessary, begin treatment. Tackling mouth cancer early gives people the best chance of survival.

The objectives of Mouth Cancer Awareness Month include:

  • Helping people know and recognise the symptoms of mouth cancer
  • Encouraging them to take greater awareness and responsibility for their oral
    health
  • Encouraging people to regularly check for unusual changes inside their mouths
  • Being proactive if you believe you have found something unusual and get this checked out by a dentist quickly

The kind of unusual changes in your mouth that you should be looking out for includes red or white patches in the cheeks, mouth or throat, mouth ulcers that you just can’t seem to shift, or lumps/swollen areas in the mouth, head or neck area. If you notice any of these then don’t wait for your usual dental check-up, book in as quickly as possible. Best case scenario
is that it will be nothing to worry about but put your mind at rest by getting it checked by an expert.

It is widely recognised that smoking is one of the biggest contributing factors to mouth, throat, neck and many other cancers, so if you are smoker it is sensible to be even more vigilant.

For more advice or if you have any concerns, call 0117 905 9866 to book an appointment at our Bristol dental clinic.

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Links found between gum disease and premature labour

gum disease

Gum disease is a thoroughly unpleasant condition which causes gums to become inflamed, painful and sometimes infected. As nasty as it is in isolation, it is also believed to be linked with many other more serious conditions, and a recent study has revealed that it is also linked with early-onset labour.

According to a report published recently in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, women who went into early labour were much more likely to have gum disease than not. Almost half of the women in the study (45%) who went into premature labour had gum disease, compared with 29% of the sample who did not. Periodontology is the study of the specialised system of hard and soft tissues that supports your teeth and maintains their position in the jaw.

This study supports many others which indicate that oral health has a big impact on our overall health and wellbeing.

Dr Nigel Carter, the Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, reflected on these findings and says “the health of our mouth can have a direct influence on many parts of our general health. This includes the chances of having a safer birth. Many women find it more difficult to maintain good oral health during pregnancy.  This is because hormonal changes during this time can leave gums more vulnerable to plaque and more likely to be sore and swollen. They may even bleed.”

As many pregnant women find it more difficult to keep their teeth and gums healthy during pregnancy, ensuring that women know how best to prevent gum disease and how to recognise the signs will help them take necessary steps to try and keep their oral hygiene as good as possible during pregnancy and afterwards.

The advice for everyone, not just pregnant women, for looking after their teeth and gums effectively includes:

  • Brushing teeth at least twice a day
  • Using fluoride toothpaste
  • Flossing or using an interdental brush to get in between the gaps in your teeth
  • Not smoking
  • Consuming alcohol in moderation

Taking preventative measures to remain healthy

Here at CK Dental in Bristol, we always advise our patients that prevention is better than cure. Looking after your oral health and doing everything you can to prevent gum disease is always going to be a better option than trying to fix it once it has occurred, especially if it has brought with it more serious medical complications.

If you do, however, feel you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease then please do get in touch to discuss the most suitable treatment options. Call us on 0117 905 9866 to book a consultation.

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Why are fewer people visiting the dentist?

dental check-up

Trends indicate that fewer people are booking themselves in to get their teeth checked regularly by a dentist these days, and here at CK Dental we feel this pattern is a cause for concern. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is extremely important, not just because we only get one set of adult teeth so really should do our best to look after them, but because it is known that poor oral health can have a detrimental effect on many other areas of people’s health.

Oral health research

The Oral Health Foundation has recently commissioned a piece of research to explore why fewer people are visiting the dentist these days for a routine dental check-up, and their findings are interesting. Survey data indicates that cost is the biggest barrier, with over one-third of Britons (36%) admitting that they are choosing not to visit the dentist to save themselves money.

This a big increase versus the previous time this data was collected, with just 17% citing financial concerns in the previous year. There are other factors to consider as well as cost; 22% cite feeling anxious about visiting the dentist as a barrier, 18% fear getting bad news and 8% indicate that work commitments get in the way of their dental visits.

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, the Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, believes cost is a factor that the government must not underestimate when looking at why the number of people visiting the dentist may be in decline. He is keen to stress that it is his belief that the government should not progress with its plan to raise dental charges by 5%, which is the current proposal. He says “the cost of visiting an NHS dentist is increasing far beyond that of inflation and pushing many of the population to breaking point. The decision to yet again raise the cost of a dental check-up will hit the poorest areas of society even harder and force even more people to avoid dental visits.”

Young people worst affected

The survey suggests that the worst affected demographic are younger people, who are really feeling the financial strain. It has been well documented that there have been some marked changes to the amount of disposable income young people have these days. Challenges such as significant increases in university tuition fees, increasing rental costs and overall increases in the cost of living are meaning that some young people are now prioritising other things over their oral health.

At CK Dental, we understand that price is often an issue for patients, so we offer dental treatment plans that help spread the cost of routine oral healthcare. Call us on 0117 905 9866 to find out more.

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Dental implants – tips to help you relax

dental implants relaxation tips

Dental implants are where a prosthetic replacement for a broken took is inserted into the mouth, fixed to the jaw bone or the skull. They are used commonly in the UK as a very effective way of addressing severely broken or missing teeth. Crowns, dentures or bridges can then be fixed to the implant, depending on the nature of the issue.

Here at CK Dental, we know that many patients feel anxious or nervous ahead of procedures such as this, so here are some handy tips to help you feel more relaxed while you’re having the work done.

Dental implant relaxation tips

  • It can feel like quite a long procedure for the patient, as you will be in the chair for quite a while. As such, bring along your favourite music or audiobooks to pass the time and also to block out the sounds of what is happening in the room and/or your mouth. You will be fully sedated, so won’t be able to feel pain, but something to distract from the sensation of someone working in your mouth helps divert your attention.
  • With regards to sedation, the majority of work like this is done under a local anaesthetic, whereby you will still be awake when the work is done, but you won’t be able to feel it. If you are suffering from dental anxiety, however, speak to us about the possibilities of general anaesthetic, and we will be able to have a talk you about the pros and cons associated with this approach.
  • Stock up on painkillers and comforting soft foods at home. When you get home, you will be in a bit of discomfort, so having some paracetamol or ibuprofen and some comforting soft foods such as soup will be helpful. Getting these stocked up in advance is sensible as it is one less thing to think about when you’re on the way home.
  • If you’re worried that you will feel a bit discombobulated after the procedure, arrange for a friend or family member to come with you so they can drive you home. If this isn’t possible, a taxi instead. This will help remove any external worries about the logistics of getting home to relax afterwards.
  • And that’s the last bit of advice – make sure you clear your diary and give yourself a good few hours afterwards to relax. You’ll feel a bit sore so take the time to curl up and look after yourself while the anaesthetic wears off.

Our practitioners are skilled in making patients feel more at ease during their dental experiences. If you are worried or feeling anxious, the best thing you can do is talk to us. We can help reassure you and make you feel more relaxed about the whole thing. Call CK Dental on 0117 905 9866 and arrange a consultation with our lead dentist Cornelius Krause.

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