Dental & Skin Clinic, Royal Tunbridge Wells
Nervous Patients — What Actually Changes When You Tell Us
If you've avoided the dentist for years, you are in extremely ordinary company here. Tell us when you book, and the appointment is run differently from that point on.
- One dentist throughout — Dr Simon Azimi, GDC 81382
- Told before anything happens
- An agreed signal that stops everything
- Longer appointments when needed
What actually changes for a nervous patient
Telling us you're nervous when you book changes how the appointment is run — not just how it's talked about.
Most nervous patients are afraid of one of a few specific things, and each has a practical answer rather than a general reassurance.
"I'm afraid it will hurt"
We use effective local anaesthetic and wait for it to work properly before starting, rather than beginning the moment it's given. Most people find the injection itself is the worst part, and that it's far less than they'd braced for.
"I'm afraid of being judged"
If it's been years — or you've never been able to face a full check-up — you are not unusual, and you will not be told off. Nobody here is impressed or appalled by the state of anyone's teeth; it's just information about what to do next.
"I'm afraid of losing control"
You'll be told what's about to happen before it happens, not narrated to afterwards. You'll agree a signal — usually a raised hand — that stops everything immediately, no explanation required, for as long as you need.
What a first visit actually involves
An examination and a conversation, with no treatment carried out unless you've agreed to it. If you want to sit in the chair and leave again without anything else happening, that's a legitimate outcome of a first visit here.
What to expect as a new patient
Read more: five root canal myths, including the pain question
Questions
Frequently asked questions
It's been years since I've seen a dentist. Will I be told off?
No. You'll be one of several people in the diary this week who've said the same thing when they rang. The examination is about finding out what's there now, not about how long it's been.
Can I stop treatment partway through if I need to?
Yes. You'll agree a signal before anything starts — usually a raised hand — and it stops everything immediately, for as long as you need, no explanation required.
What if I've had a bad experience at another practice?
Tell us what happened, in as much or as little detail as you're comfortable with. It genuinely changes how the appointment is planned — some people just need to be asked before being touched; others need something more specific avoided entirely.
Do I have to have an X-ray if I don't want one?
An X-ray is only taken with your agreement, and you'll be told why it's being suggested. If you'd rather not, say so, and we'll explain what that means for the examination rather than just doing it anyway.
Is this any different from what every dental website says?
Only you can judge that once you've rung and said it out loud. What we can tell you is that it's asked for on the booking form and the phone, not buried in a paragraph — because the point at which it needs to be known is before the appointment is planned, not during it.
The first step is just saying so
Tell us on the phone or in the form below, in whatever words come naturally — "I'm nervous," "it's been a long time," "I need this done slowly." That's all it takes to change how the appointment is planned.
Or call us on 01892 547286 if you'd rather talk to someone first.
Mon–Fri 8:30am–5:15pm · Sat 10am–4:30pm1 The Lodge, Mount Pleasant Avenue, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1QY
Reviewed by Dr Simon Azimi, GDC 81382