Why You Shouldn’t Dread the Dentist

Why shouldn’t you dread going to the dentist? Because the visit you are dreading may not exist anymore. Many adults carry a picture of dentistry from years ago: the whine of the drill, trays of impression goop, a lecture about flossing and a bill that arrived as a surprise. A lot of that has changed. This post compares the dental visits people remember with what a visit to the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is like today, one dread at a time.

If your worry goes deeper than old memories, such as panic in the chair, you may also find help in fear of the dentist and how to get past the panic.

Why old dental memories stick around

Memories of discomfort tend to outlast memories of everything that went fine. A single rough appointment as a child or a young adult can shape how you feel about every visit that follows, even decades later. Sounds and smells can bring those feelings back before you even sit down.

The trouble is that dread keeps people away, and time away lets small problems grow into bigger ones. Updating the picture in your head is one of the easiest ways to break that cycle. Here is what has changed.

Dread 1: The drill

Then: The high-pitched sound, the vibration and the feeling of pressure were the parts of a filling people remembered most.

Now: Air abrasion can remove small areas of decay quickly and quietly, with no heat, pressure or vibration. The office also offers a gentle filling process using micro-air technology, for people of all ages. Finding decay early matters here too: DIAGNOdent laser detection helps catch decay at its earliest stages, and a cavity caught early usually needs only a small filling. Learn more about the practice’s dental technology.

Dread 2: Gagging on impression trays

Then: Getting a crown, a guard or orthodontic records meant biting into a tray of thick impression material and waiting for it to set.

Now: The iTero Element intraoral scanner creates a 3D image of your teeth quickly and with less tendency toward gagging. It can even create a simulation of what your results may look like.

Dread 3: X-rays you never got to see

Then: X-rays were taken, developed somewhere out of sight and discussed in terms you did not understand.

Now: Digital X-rays appear on screen right away with less radiation than standard dental X-rays, and intraoral cameras zoom in so you can see what Dr. Haywood sees. When a problem is explained with a picture of your own tooth, it is far less mysterious.

Dread 4: Being lectured

Then: Many people remember a scolding about brushing and flossing that left them embarrassed, and embarrassment is a powerful reason to stay away.

Now: Every visit starts with a conversation, not a drill. The team listens first and then treats, walking you through what needs doing, what can safely wait and what it costs. If it has been years since your last visit, read been a while since you’ve visited a dentist? to see what a first visit back looks like.

Dread 5: Feeling rushed, or stuck waiting

Then: Long waits in the reception area followed by an appointment that felt hurried.

Now: Appointments are scheduled with room to breathe, so you are never rushed and the practice is not running behind. Routine visits are unhurried and focused on prevention. You also see the same familiar faces at every visit, so you never have to explain yourself twice.

Dread 6: Gum treatment

Then: Treatment for gum problems had a reputation for being uncomfortable and invasive.

Now: Gum care at the practice is non-surgical, removing the bacteria beneath the gums that drive the disease. Laser technology makes periodontal therapy less invasive and more comfortable, and oral DNA testing helps identify which bacteria are present so treatment is more accurate. See gum disease treatment.

Dread 7: Silver fillings and metal in your mouth

Then: Fillings were dark metal amalgam that showed every time you laughed.

Now: The practice is mercury-free and never places amalgam fillings. Tooth-colored composite fillings bond to the tooth and blend in. Read about mercury-free dentistry.

Dread 8: Being too anxious to sit through it

Then: If you were nervous, you were expected to grip the armrests and get through it.

Now: If dental visits make you anxious, tell the team, and the visit is planned around it. Laughing gas is offered as a complimentary service and eases anxious feelings within seconds; you should feel fully alert afterward and can drive yourself home. Oral conscious sedation is a pill taken before your appointment. Learn about sedation dentistry.

Dread 9: A cold, clinical room

Then: Bright lights, a hard chair and the smell of a medical office.

Now: The Timonium office is spa-inspired, with soft seating, calming aromatherapy, soothing paraffin wax hand treatments while you relax in the chair, and fresh espresso or coffee from the Nespresso station. One patient described it this way: “The office feels more like someone’s home than a sterile office… I have always been terrified of dental visits. Not anymore.” Take the office tour.

Dread 10: The surprise bill

Then: Treatment happened first, and the cost became clear later.

Now: You hear what treatment costs before anything begins. The practice is out of network with insurance companies: you pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for covered care. HSA and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months.

What hasn’t changed: why regular visits still matter

Some things about dentistry are the same as ever. Dental problems rarely get better on their own, and small problems are easier to fix than big ones. Regular check-ups and cleanings remove plaque and tartar that brushing misses, and an oral cancer screening with ViziLite is part of your regular check-up. The difference now is that getting that care can be a far calmer experience than the one you remember.

And once your mouth is healthy, today’s dentistry can do more than fix problems. Whitening, bonding and veneers can give you a smile you want to show. See the options on the cosmetic dentistry in Timonium page.

Frequently asked questions

Will I be asleep if I choose sedation?

Not with laughing gas or oral conscious sedation. You stay conscious and can respond to the team, just without the stress.

Can I tell the team what I dread most?

Yes, and please do. Your first appointment includes a conversation about whether fear is a problem for you, so your visit can be planned around it.

Is there extra cost for laughing gas?

No. Laughing gas is complimentary; just let the team know you would like it. Any other costs are explained before anything begins.

What if it has been many years since my last visit?

You are welcome. The first visit starts with a conversation and a thorough exam, and your X-rays appear on screen so you can see what is going on. Your plan is built around your needs, your comfort and your budget.

See how different a dental visit can be

If dread has kept you away, give today’s dentistry a chance to change your mind. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, serving Timonium, Towson, Cockeysville and Baltimore. For more ways to make visits easier, read comfortable dental care for anxious patients.