It's almost Valentine's Day, and we thought "What better way to mark the occasion then to share one of our favourite patient's journey's at Bamboo Dental?" Dental anxiety patient Mark from Newport braved his fears of the dental chair all in the name of love. He came to Bamboo Dental to not only put his mind at rest, but his girlfriend's too. Mark shares his Dental Anxiety story below.

Dental Anxiety

Dental Phobia - A nightmare for your teeth

I don't care what you say - nobody likes the dentist! Even people with shiny white teeth who have never had fillings, - they still don't like going to the dentist. Why would you? It's nerve wracking. You spend all the time leading up to it wondering what the dentist will find and how much he will charge you. Will he notice that time you fell asleep and didn't brush your teeth? Will he be able to pin point that exact moment you couldn't be bothered to floss? And will he notice all that teeth grinding you've been doing? The worries stack up! It's even worse when you haven't gone for a while too - you know you're more likely to have something that needs fixing. On top of that, you expect a telling off from your dentist like a naughty pupil. We all know we SHOULD go to the dentist. Why do we need reminding of that? It's obvious. So then why do so many of us put it off? Well that's simple - it's terrifying!

Braving the Dental Chair - Patient Testimonial

I met my girlfriend through Tinder. Believe it or not, it's actually been working out very well. She's the most amazing girl and really attractive. When I saw her job description on her profile, I almost swiped left. A dental nurse? Oh dear! No matter how attractive or kind she found me, she was always going to mention my teeth. Let me set this straight before I begin - I actually have nice teeth - aesthetically speaking that is. They look pretty straight as I had orthodontic treatment when I was younger - but that feels like a million miles ago. I grew up, went to uni and kind of put off seeing a dentist for a long time. However, seeing a dentist isn't like seeing doctor - you shouldn't just go when you think something's wrong. You should go for regular check ups. I knew this - I wasn't stupid. However, I just really didn't want to go. I had this irrational fear of going to the dentist. I swiped right to this girl in any case. I couldn't not swipe right. She was gorgeous. A day later I found out it was a mutual swipe. I was landed - chuffed. I don't have any photos smiling with my teeth and it's something she picked up on straight away. She said nice teeth were a must for her. I'm generally a confident person but my teeth were an insecurity for me. I couldn't help it - I'd put off going for so long they had just become slightly discoloured. Straight, but discoloured.

Tackling Dental Anxiety

Date night arrives and I tell her about my dental anxiety. I was really nervous to mention it - I thought she'd think I was a wimp. At the same time, I thought i'd laugh it off. If I laughed at myself being a wimp then she couldn't. She found it really sweet and endearing when I told her. It was a real relief. She told me that dental phobia was a big thing. Lots of people suffer from dental phobia and I shouldn't be ashamed of it. What exactly is it that caused my dental anxiety? You know what? I don't think there's a single moment I can remember in particular. I remember never liking it, but there were lots of things I didn't like when I was a child. Chemistry class, maths class, piano lessons... but all those things I could give up and did give up. The dentist was something I couldn't give up - even though I tried to! My girlfriend said on date night that I should see a dentist which deals with patients with dental anxiety. It was a relief to know that there were some dental practices that dealt with people like me who were terrified of their existence. OK, I know it sounds like I'm going over the top - but that's literally how any phobia is. You have this irrational fear and know it's irrational but you can't help it! I had a lovely night with her and wanted to see her again. I didn't want to lose a stunning girl like her so I decided to stay true to my word and see a dentist. I googled dental anxiety to find out a bit more about it. Before I had the chance to click on link, I found Bamboo Dental. I thought "If Bamboo Dental pop up as soon as you type dental anxiety, they must be good at treating patients with it." I went on the website and read about the staff and how they deal with anxious patients. They said that the worst appointment at the dental practice is the one you don't make. It got me thinking. They had a point. Whatever state my teeth were in - they would be in a far worse state in five more years if I don't go. So I took the plunge and booked an appointment - and I'm so glad I did. Bamboo Dental is truly a lovely practice with really friendly staff. I didn't feel embarrassed for too long about my teeth as staff were understanding to my phobia. After a quick check up, it was revealed I needed three fillings. OK, the fillings weren't my favourite experience - they never were going to be but it was my own fault for putting off a trip for so long. However, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Catherine, my dentist was really kind and I'm forever grateful for her for getting me back on track with my dental hygiene. Thanks Mark! If you too have dental anxiety, why not call us today to see how we can help you try and overcome your fears? Our staff are friendly and understanding of any fears you may have. Remember - it's better to call now than later - no matter how long you've left it.