Fear of the dentist -
Your dentist for anxiety patients
Many people experience discomfort and anxiety before going to the dentist. However, it is important to know that modern dentistry is designed to be comfortable and pain-free. The DR. HAGER | dentists and their staff are trained and specialized in helping patients overcome their fears so that their visit to the dentist is a pleasant one.
- Specialized in dental anxiety
- Completely pain-free treatment methods
- Family practice for over 40 years, now in its second generation
Sensitive, painless dental treatment in Constance and Bietingen, especially for anxious patients
Our dental practice team specializes in the treatment of anxiety patients. We take your dental anxiety seriously and respond to your individual wishes regarding treatment.
In detail this means:
- We predict every step of the treatment so that you are not taken by surprise.
- We have developed special techniques to ensure that there is never any pain during treatment.
- Our entire team is specially trained to treat you with sensitivity and to take your needs and fears seriously.
- We treat you without pain!
Find out more about our practice in our patient interviews
„Almost every second patient is afraid of visiting the dentist. Often it is the unpleasant feeling of toothache or the thought of the anaesthetic injection. We dentists at Dr. Hager have developed a concept for reassurance and anxiety reduction. Injections are barely noticeable and are administered sensitively.“
Dr. Benjamin Hager
How does a treatment with us work?
First step: Making contact
We want to give our patients an environment of trust. Nobody likes going to the dentist, which is why every appointment should be as pleasant as possible for the patient. And that’s what our patients get. For our patients we apply a special concept exactly for these situations. Feedback from anxious patients shows us that our efforts are worthwhile.
Second step: allay fears
During the first examination appointment, patients already feel the pleasant contact without any time pressure. Their concerns and wishes are discussed together with the help of pictures and explanations. Once a suitable course of treatment has been found, we go through the upcoming treatments step by step with the patients and any family members so that the patients know exactly what to expect. The fixed choice of a DR. HAGER | dentist is a matter of course for us.
Conclusion: Appointment booking
As soon as patients have made their decision, they can simply book their first appointment online. The 3-month price commitment helps them to take enough time to think things over. Before and after each appointment there is a short meeting to clarify any questions. This makes the patients happy and we feel the trust placed in us.
Testimonials from our patients
Fear of the dentist - the background
- Fear of the dentist is widespread. Patients who set foot in the dental practice are still frightened and have a queasy feeling.
- Toothache is often the most unpleasant pain for people and so pain is feared during treatment.
- This is clearly shown by a scientific survey which states that 50% of people who need urgent treatment still do not visit the dentist because of their fear.
- Historically, this fear is deeply rooted in people, as not even 30 years ago teeth were pulled and cavities removed without any anesthetic. The traumatic experiences of parents are considered to be the cause of dental anxiety. All this happened even though the means were available.
The New York surgeon William Stewart Halsted performed the first anaesthesia in dentistry using cocaine in 1885. Cocaine, which was later abused as a drug, was first used in ophthalmology. Halsted was the first to use these pioneering achievements in dentistry.
- It is therefore very surprising that many dentists did not make use of local anesthetics in the twentieth century. If injections were used in the past, however, it was not enough to reduce patients' fear of the dentist. The syringes, called cannulas, were very thick and caused pain and fear.
- Nowadays, with the widespread use of anesthetics, very thin cannulas (syringes), the patient's fear of the dentist is taken away.
- DR. HAGER | Zahnärzte specialise in the sensitive treatment of anxious patients. With a great deal of understanding and specially developed methods – including the targeted use of modern anaesthesia techniques – we enable stress-free and virtually painless treatment. Our team takes time, listens and accompanies you every step of the way – so that you feel safe and can gain confidence.
We deal with anxiety patients in our dental practices every day
That is why we pay particular attention to gentle, high-quality treatment, where we are very sensitive to anxiety. After the treatment, it is a great feeling when patients tell us about their positive experience and we realize that most patients come to us because of a recommendation.
The gentle use of the syringe and its effects and benefits, especially for anxious patients
- With a specially developed application of anesthesia procedures, patients at DR. HAGER | Zahnärzte takes away the fear of pain right from the start.
- After a few minutes, the effect becomes apparent and the local areas required for the treatment are anaesthetized and fall asleep. Incidentally, the bitter taste does not come from the anesthetic, but from its preservative, which makes storage possible in the first place.
- If the patient is anesthetized, the anesthesia lasts longer to ensure that the procedure is pain-free. It becomes more demanding for the dentist if the patient has delayed their visit to the practice for a long time.
- Inflammation is often already at an advanced stage. It is then difficult for a local anesthetic to work in this area. What is the reason for this? Inflammation creates a very acidic environment in the tissue, which reduces the effect of medication in the case of inflammation. It is therefore important to visit the dentist at early signs of pain and generally for an annual check-up.
- If this does not happen and the inflamed area does not become numb, the dentist can usually help himself by first starting antibiotic therapy to put the inflammation on pause. The anesthetic can then take effect at the next visit and the cause of the pain can be treated.
For anxious patients
Where does my fear come from?
Often the first step for people to overcome dental anxiety is to come to terms with the real reason for their fear. The reasons often lie in the parents’ fear, which was also justified at the time, but no longer has much in common with today. As a child, this fear of the dentist is then taken for granted.
For anxious patients
Natural home remedies
Before going to the dentist, many anxious patients turn to calming home remedies such as chamomile or lavender oil to help them relax. These natural remedies can help to reduce anxiety and make the visit more comfortable. Open communication with the dentist about anxiety is important in order to be treated sensitively. Ultimately, the goal is for patients to feel comfortable and confident about their oral health treatment.
For anxious patients
We respond to your fears and wishes
Dr. HAGER | dentists take special care to respond to the wishes of anxious patients. It can also be helpful to explain individual steps and provide information about the steps of the treatment before and during the procedure in order to reduce anxiety.
Visit our dental practice for anxiety patients
and the entire Dr. Hager team
Frequently asked questions about fear of the dentist
What does dental phobia mean?
Dental phobia is the fear of the dentist or dental treatment, possibly triggered by a trauma in childhood or bad experiences with pain during treatment, for example.
What can you do or what helps if you are afraid of the dentist?
It is very good if you talk to your dentist about this so that we can address your concerns individually and find the most comfortable way for you.
Why does the injection not work to deactivate the sensitivity of the tooth?
Patients often suffer from acute inflammation of the tooth, gums or jaw, which is already well advanced. This acidic inflammatory environment sometimes makes it impossible to ensure complete anaesthesia. In this case, a preliminary course of antibiotics usually helps to alleviate the symptoms for the subsequent appointment and thus successfully complete the treatment of the tooth or gum under safe anesthesia.
Does the treatment at Dr. HAGER | Zahnärzte always involve anesthesia in case of pain?
Yes! We place great importance on performing our dental treatments with local anaesthetics. Whether it’s tooth decay, gum treatment, toothache or minor surgical procedures, Dr. HAGER | Dentists always treat patients in such a way as to guarantee gentle treatment of the affected area without pain. We use gentle methods to eliminate the cause of the toothache. Whether it’s conduction anaesthesia or local anaesthesia, each of our methods is designed to alleviate the patient’s fear of the dentist in the future.
How can the dentist take away the fear of the dentist?
It is not always easy for dentists to overcome dental anxiety due to the past, when local anesthetics were often not used. Just 30 years ago, it was by no means normal for dentists to perform dental treatment with anesthesia. So it is not surprising that this generation has established a great fear of the dentist. At Dr. HAGER | Zahnärzte, we have been using local anaesthetics since we opened our dental practice 40 years ago. To take away the fear, we talk about the individual steps if necessary and thus help to make dental anxiety a thing of the past as quickly as possible. In general, at Dr. HAGER | Zahnärzte in Konstanz and Bietingen, we strive to achieve a state of health in education and dental hygiene that will also make toothache a thing of the past for our patients in the future.
What causes toothache?
This is often caused by a lack of oral hygiene. If proper dental care is not carried out on a daily basis, bacteria can attack healthy teeth and cause tooth decay. Bacteria work their way further and further into the tooth and reach the inner layers of the tooth. Stimuli such as cold water, sweet foods or fruit acids come closer and closer to the nerve in the tooth, causing the familiar toothache. Bacteria can also cause inflammation of the gums. This allows the bacteria to settle in the gum pockets and move deeper and deeper towards the root of the tooth. This also causes toothache.