Easing Dental Anxiety: My Not-So-Perfect Experience

Part 1: The Dread

Sarah always hated going to the dentist. The sounds, the medicine smells, and the bright lights made her feel really uncomfortable. When sitting in her car outside Tri-Cities Dental Specialists, she nearly decided to run away back home and try another day. But she somehow thought, “I can’t procrastinate this any longer,” and turned back in.

Inside, things felt different. The front desk wasn’t that cold, rushed place she expected. Instead, Anna, the receptionist, gave her a smile that felt real. Not a big change, but enough to calm her nerves a bit, which was more than she thought would happen.

Part 2: The Unexpected Surprise

Then came the part she was dreading—meeting the dentist. The Doctor didn’t just call her name and walk away like she had experienced before. He walked up to her, shook her hand, and asked how she was doing but not just the usual “How are you?”, instead, more like, “How are you feeling right now?” That different start caught her off guard, in a good way.

As they walked to the exam room, the Doctor didn’t start talking about teeth right away but about her day, her favorite movies, and other random stuff. Just by that care, she realized she wasn’t gripping the armrests as tightly as usual when sitting on the dental chair. She was still nervous but the feeling of overwhelming was not like her prior experience.

“So, here’s what we’re going to do today,” the Doctor said, but he didn’t rush it. He explained everything slowly and in simple terms, checking in with her every now and then. No confusing jargon, no assumptions—just clear, easy-to-follow conversation.

When the exam started, Sarah expected the usual: quick, uncomfortable, and something to endure. But the Doctor took his time, asking, “How are you doing? Need a break?” sometimes even pausing for a minute so she could catch her breath.

Additionally, Sarah didn’t have the same feeling as before about the detal room as it was not like a typical detist’s office. The chair was comfortable, the lighting wasn’t too harsh, the odor of the candle, and she was also offered to play the songs from her phone as well. The whole experience was like enjoying a coffee morning, rather than a dentist appointment.

Part 3: The Aftermath

The procedure didn’t feel like a procedure. It felt more like everyone was working together—Sarah, the Doctor, and the assistant—to get through it. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than what she had feared.

When it was all done, the Doctor didn’t just say, “See you next time,” and leave. He actually sat down with her, asked how she felt, and what they could do better next time. It was different, and Sarah could really feel that difference.

As she walked out of the office, she realized something had changed. She wasn’t exactly looking forward to her next visit, but she wasn’t dreading it either. And for someone like Sarah, that was a big win.

Maybe, just maybe, going to the dentist wasn’t going to be so bad after all.