Dental Conditions
Fear of needles
For a lot of people, dental anxiety is really needle anxiety. That is a specific problem with specific solutions.
Three approaches
Topical Anesthetic
A numbing gel is applied to the gum tissue before any injection, so the needle prick is minimised or not felt at all. This is standard practice for every patient, every time, at no additional cost.
Gentle Injection Technique
Thin-gauge needles administered slowly. Most of what people experience as injection pain comes from anesthetic delivered too fast, not from the needle itself — so we take our time and talk you through it.
Sedation
For severe needle phobia, nitrous oxide or IV sedation administered by Dr. Stephen Ing allows the injection to be given while you are deeply relaxed, with continuous vital sign monitoring.
Why this combination works
Needle phobia is usually maintained by anticipation rather than the event. Knowing that gel goes on first, that the needle is thin, that delivery will be slow, and that you can raise a hand at any point removes most of the anticipatory dread.
With sedation, the injection is typically given after you are already relaxed — so for many patients the part they feared most is the part they do not remember.
You are not unusual, and you do not have to explain yourself
A fear of needles is common enough that we plan around it as a matter of course. You will not be asked to justify it, and nobody will try to talk you out of it. Telling us at the start simply means we can do things differently.
Many people who avoid the dentist for years do so because of this one thing. It is worth saying out loud on the phone when you book, so the appointment is arranged around it rather than adapted halfway through.
What we can do differently
Topical anaesthetic applied first, and left long enough to actually work, means most people do not feel the injection at all. Beyond that there is nitrous oxide, which takes the edge off while you stay awake and wears off within minutes, and oral or IV sedation for people who would rather remember none of it.
Some treatments can be started without an injection at all, so you can see how you feel before deciding. You remain in control of the pace throughout, and anything agreed can be stopped.
Other conditions we treat
Concerned about your symptoms?
Tell us when you book that needles are the issue. Call (905) 479-7777.