I am Terrified of Dental Treatment
7 June 2026
Every so often, a patient sits down and says something very honest.
“I’m terrified.”
Sometimes they laugh as they say it. Sometimes they apologise. Occasionally they become emotional before we have even started talking about their teeth. What I always want them to know is that they are not unusual. And they are certainly not the first person to feel that way.
Fear does not always come from neglect
One of the biggest misconceptions about dental anxiety is that it only affects people who have avoided dental treatment for years. In reality, some of the most anxious patients I meet take excellent care of their teeth. Fear does not always come from neglect. Sometimes it comes from experience. A painful appointment years ago. A difficult extraction. Feeling rushed. Feeling unheard. Or simply losing trust at a moment when you felt vulnerable. The details differ. The feeling is often the same.
Dental Anxiety Is Far More Common Than People Realise
Many patients are surprised to discover how many people feel nervous about dental treatment. Some worry for days before an appointment. Some struggle to sleep the night before. Others arrive feeling physically unwell with anxiety. There are patients who would rather tolerate pain than pick up the phone and book an appointment.
Fear does not always make sense logically. And it does not need to. The important thing is recognising that it is real.
Most People Are Not Afraid of Dentistry
This may sound like a strange thing for a dentist to say. But I often think patients are not actually afraid of dentistry itself. They are afraid of what might happen. They are afraid of pain. Of bad news. Of losing a tooth. Of feeling trapped. Of not being in control. Very often, uncertainty is what creates the greatest anxiety. When people understand what is happening and what their options are, the fear often becomes much more manageable.
The Appointment Is Not a Test
One thing I wish more patients understood is that dental appointments are not examinations of character. Nobody is being judged. Nobody is being graded. Nobody is being told off for not flossing often enough or for delaying treatment.
Dentists spend their days helping people with dental problems. That is our job. The goal is not to look backwards and ask why something happened. The goal is to understand where things stand today and decide what happens next.
You Do Not Have to Decide Everything Immediately
Anxiety often makes people feel as though they have to make decisions straight away. In reality, that is rarely the case. Many appointments begin with a conversation. An examination. Sometimes X-rays or scans. A discussion about options. Often, the most important outcome of the first appointment is simply understanding the situation clearly. Treatment decisions can usually be made afterwards. Patients are often relieved to discover that there is time to think. Time to ask questions. Time to understand.
Control Matters
One of the things I have learned over the years is that anxious patients often feel better when they know they remain in control. They can ask questions. They can take breaks. They can tell us when they need a moment. They can decide how quickly or slowly they wish to proceed. Good dentistry is not something that happens to a patient. It is something that happens with them.
Taking the First Step Is Often the Hardest Part
Many patients tell us afterwards that the anticipation was worse than the appointment itself. Not because every treatment is easy. But because uncertainty can be exhausting. Sometimes the greatest achievement is simply walking through the door. Once that first step has been taken, everything else tends to feel more manageable. At Implant & Perio Clinic in Marylebone, near Harley Street, we regularly care for patients who describe themselves as nervous, anxious or frightened of dental treatment.
Our experience has been that listening carefully, explaining clearly and moving at a pace that feels comfortable often makes a greater difference than patients expect. Because good dentistry is not only about treating teeth. It is also about helping people feel safe enough to receive the care they need.
About the Author
Dr Sanaz Tehrani, DDS (Germany), is Principal Dentist and Clinical Director of Implant & Perio Clinic in Marylebone, Central London.
Having experienced her own dental anxieties as a younger patient, she understands how powerful fear can be and how difficult it can be to take that first step. She believes that good dentistry begins with trust, communication and helping patients feel comfortable enough to move forward at their own pace.
Implant & Perio Clinic is located at Implant & Perio Clinic, Portland Place, Marylebone, near Harley Street, London W1.
