I'm afraid of the dentist: how to overcome it (and what conscious sedation is)

In short: fear of the dentist is very common and there is a solution. It usually comes from bad past experiences or the feeling of not being in control, and it is worked on with communication, short appointments and, when needed, conscious sedation. If you haven’t been for years, you are not a rare exception: in Bilbao there are plenty of people in the same situation as you.

Why am I so afraid of the dentist?

Fear of the dentist (what professionals call dental phobia) is not silly or an exaggeration on your part. It almost always has a clear origin: a bad experience as a child, a time when something hurt more than expected, the sound of the drill, the smells of the surgery or, above all, that feeling of lying back unable to control what is happening.

On top of that comes the embarrassment. Many people go years without going because they think they will be told off for the state of their mouth. And that vicious circle (I don’t go because I’m afraid, and the longer I leave it the worse it gets) ends up snowballing.

The key point: fear is a normal reaction of the body, not a flaw in you. And, like almost everything that frightens us, it is best faced with information and by going little by little.

What can I do to feel calmer when I go?

There are simple things that help from day one:

• Say it out loud. Mention when booking that you are afraid. Knowing it changes the pace of everything and you are treated accordingly.
• Start with a check-up, no treatment. Getting to know the surgery and the team without anything being done lowers the tension a great deal.
• Ask them to explain it beforehand. Knowing what they are going to do and how long it will take removes much of the fear of the unknown.
• Agree on a signal to stop. Raising your hand so they pause gives you back that sense of control, which is exactly what we tend to lose in the chair.
• Bring someone with you if it helps, and try music or headphones to shut out the noise.

Short appointments at first, without rushing, help the body gradually associate the surgery with something manageable rather than with a threat.

What exactly is conscious sedation?

Conscious sedation is a technique that helps you relax deeply during treatment, but without putting you fully to sleep. You stay awake, breathe on your own and respond if spoken to; what changes is that you are much calmer, the time flies by and you retain little memory of the session.

It is not the same as general anaesthesia (that does put you fully to sleep and is used in other contexts). Conscious sedation is lighter and is designed precisely for people who are anxious or for long treatments where you want to be comfortable.

It is important to know that its use depends on each case and on your medical history: it requires a prior professional assessment. This guide is for information only and does not replace your dentist’s judgement, who is the one who decides whether it is suitable for you.

And what if I haven’t been for years and have a lot to do?

This is more common than it seems. The way to tackle it is in stages: first a calm check-up to see where we are starting from, then an ordered plan by priorities and, from there, going step by step. There is no need to sort everything out in a week.

Treatments people dread, such as implants, are today planned with great care and, combined with conscious sedation when appropriate, are experienced very differently from what many imagine.

The key is not to hide the fear, but to put it on the table so the team takes it into account from minute one.

Where do I start in Bilbao?

The first step is the simplest: booking a check-up and saying that you are wary of the dentist. That visit is not about doing anything to you, but about getting to know each other, looking at your mouth calmly and setting out a plan at your own pace.

Overcoming the fear of the dentist is entirely possible, and it almost always starts with a first, pressure-free appointment. If you want to take that step, write to us or call us from the contact and how to find us page and book your first check-up free, with no obligation. We go at your pace.