Nervous Patients

We have built our reputation on helping put nervous patients at ease.

We know many people are anxious about visiting the dentist, so we do everything we can to help you feel relaxed and confident while you are here.

We have helped hundreds of patients overcome their fear of the dentist, and we can help you too! Please read on to find out more about all the ways in which we make your dental care journey with us as smooth as possible.

How we support nervous patients

Meet Us Before

Meet Us Before

We welcome you to come in and meet us before your first appointment, when you can ask any questions and have a look round the practice.

Gentle Care

Gentle Care

We invest in the latest technology to ensure your experience is painless, and our current patients frequently comment on how gentle we are.

You're in Control

You're in Control

We never start treatment, not even a check up, without your being ready. We will agree a signal you can give us if you need us to stop at any time.

Dental Phobia Certified

Dental Phobia Certified

We’ve been supporting nervous patients for decades and are proud to be a registered phobia-certified practice.

Friendly Team

Friendly Team

Our whole team are sympathetic to your anxieties, and we will do everything we can to ensure you are always as comfortable as possible.

Sedation Available

Sedation Available

For those who feel especially nervous about undergoing treatment, we offer sedation, to help you stay calm and comfortable throughout.

Helen was too nervous to look in her own mouth, let alone smile.

Like many people who feel anxious about dental visits, Helen was worried she would be judged for how her teeth looked. But we applaud the courage it takes to come in for treatment, and welcome everyone. She now sees her appointments as a party!

Watch Helen’s story

Phil hadn’t been to the dentist for over 17 years due to his phobia. 

Broken teeth led him Philip to find the confidence to seek help, and by creating a relaxed and supportive environment, his appointments gradually became more comfortable, and the fear that held him back for so long began to fade.

Watch Philip’s story

Shelly needed medication to even get through the door of a dental practice.

Shelly had always hated her teeth and never imagined she could receive the dental care she needed to achieve her dream smile. But after meeting Celia and the team, she gained the confidence to go ahead with Invisalign, dental implants, and teeth whitening.

Watch Shelly’s story

What our patients say...

Nervous Patients FAQs

Will it hurt?

Patients are often frightened that on their visit to the dentist they will have to sit through uncomfortable or downright painful treatment, especially if they have suffered from bad experiences at the dentist in the past. We promise this will not happen when you visit us. We use excellent anaesthetics and gentle techniques and we believe we have failed if you are not completely comfortable at all times. The most frequent comment people make at the end of their treatment appointment is “if I had known it was that painless I wouldn’t have worried about coming”.

I hate not being in control

At nothing but the tooth, you are in control. We will never start treatment, even a check up, without your being ready. We will agree a signal you can give us, such as a raised hand, if you need us to stop what we are doing at any time. If you decide part way through an appointment that you have had enough for today, we will stop treatment. You can have absolute faith that you are in complete control of what is happening at all times.

Can’t you just knock me out?

Having treatment under sedation or General Anaesthetic is not a cure for dental phobia. The next time you need treatment you will be just as scared as you are now.

We prefer to work with you at your own pace to help you overcome your fears for good with a combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Neurolinguistic Programming type techniques which gradually desensitise you to the anxiety of a dental appointment.

If you are one of the few patients who feel they are not progressing with this, we can provide tablets to help just before your appointment, or we can arrange for you to receive any urgent care under sedation.

I am scared of needles

Lots of people have the same phobia, so you are not alone. We always try to use materials and techniques that do not need an injection if you are frightened of needles. If we feel that it is advisable that your teeth are numb before treatment, we will explain this to you. We can use a special gel to numb your gum first if you would like, and then our local anaesthetic injections are given so gently that many people do not even feel them. We ask our patients to score the injections on a 0 – 10 scale, where 0 is no pain at all and 10 is agony. Very nearly all our patients give a score of 0 or 1. Our highest ever score (once!) was 3.

I am frightened of the dentist’s drill

Again, this is a common worry.

If your anxiety is based on a worry that the drilling will hurt, we would refer you back to our pain free promise. You will not have to sit through any painful treatment here. Ever.

If you don’t like the noise, you are welcome to bring your iPod or MP3 player, or a CD to play.

If you dislike the sensation of drilling, we can do shorter treatments, or give you frequent “breathers”. There are even some ways of filling teeth such as the Aquacut air abrasion unit which will remove decay painlessly without any drilling at all.

I am embarrassed about how bad my teeth are

The team at Nothing But The Tooth are all experienced dental professionals, and we can promise you that we see patients with high treatment requirements all the time. It takes a lot of courage to come for treatment if you are nervous, especially when you know you need a lot of work. We applaud that, and we thank you for choosing us to help you on your way towards a healthy mouth and that amazing smile you are going to be sporting soon.

Not sure whether the treatment is for you?

Book for a free no-obligation consultation to find our more. Just call us on 0121 382 8544 or make an enquiry using our online form.

Get in touch

@NothingButTheTooth

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We have appointments available with Dr Sarah Hayat today! ⭐️

If you have a dental concern, toothache, or are just overdue your healthy mouth assessment, give us a call and we'd love to help.

☎️ Call the practice to book: 0121 382 8544
“I had a nightmare of a mouth... now I have a healthy smile.” ✨
 
When Jane first came to us, she was dealing with advanced gum disease, missing teeth, and a lack of confidence in her smile. Although dental implants were her goal, the first step was improving the health of her mouth.
 
Through commitment, regular hygiene visits, and ongoing support from our team, Jane achieved exactly that. Today, her gum disease is under control, her smile has been restored, and she no longer worries about gaps showing or dentures moving. 🦷
 
Thank you, Jane, for sharing your journey with us! ❤️
 
#PatientStory #DentalImplants #SmileTransformation #GumDiseaseTreatment #suttoncoldfield
✨ Whitening Before & After ✨

Eve came to see us as she was happy with the shape, position and health of her teeth, but really wanted a brighter, whiter smile. Using Enlighten Whitening, Sarah helped her achieve this while maintaining a natural look 😊
 
Thinking about whitening your smile? We’d love to help!
📞 0121 382 8544
📧 smile@nothingbutthetooth.co.uk
 
#TeethWhitening #SmileTransformation #CosmeticDentistry #Enlighten #SuttonColdfield
Jetting off somewhere nice? Don’t forget your peace of mind! ✈️☀️
 
Sparkle Club members have access to Worldwide Emergency Dental Assistance while abroad, meaning that if you experience a dental emergency during your trip — such as toothache, swelling, or a broken tooth — you can see a local dentist for temporary emergency treatment and claim back up to £475 towards the cost. 🦷
 
It’s one of those benefits you hope you’ll never need… but you’ll be glad it’s there.
 
If you’re already a member of our Sparkle Club, you’re covered! And if you’d like to sign up, just speak to a member of our team. ✨
OUR PRIDE BAKE SALE IS BACK!! 🌈🧁
 
Join us on Monday 22nd June as we celebrate Pride Month with plenty of colourful homemade treats and sweet goodies 🍪✨
 
All funds raised will once again be donated to @birminghamlgbt - an amazing charity supporting the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people in our community 💖
 
We can’t wait to see you there!

#pridemonth #pride #birminghamlgbt
Did you know that sugar-free chewing gum could be a secret weapon in your oral health routine?! ✨
 
Chewing sugar-free gum for around 20 minutes after eating helps increase saliva flow, which can:
🦷 Wash away food particles and acids
🦷 Strengthen and protect tooth enamel
🦷 Reduce plaque build-up and the risk of decay
 
A simple habit that can support a healthier smile between brushes - give it a try if you don’t already! 🪥
On World No Tobacco Day, it’s important to remember that for many people, switching from smoking to vaping feels like a “safer” choice, but the detrimental effects on your mouth can still be significant.
 
Although vapes don’t contain tar like cigarettes, they can still impact your oral health by:
🦷 Trapping stains and causing discolouration from aerosols and flavourings
⚡ Contributing to faster enamel wear
🦠 Disrupting the balance of bacteria, increasing the risk of decay and gum disease
🩸 Reducing blood flow to the gums, which can slow healing
💧 Causing dry mouth and bad breath
 
If you vape, our team can help support your oral health with tailored advice during your Healthy Mouth Assessments 🪥✨
 
#WorldNoTobaccoDay #Vaping #OralHealth #HealthySmiles
Neil has been a patient of ours for many years, but recently came to us after an impact injury to one of his lower front teeth while playing hockey. Over time, the tooth had darkened and he wasn’t happy with how it looked.
 
Using composite bonding, Mariam was able to carefully rebuild and blend the tooth so you’d never even know! ✨🦷

#compositebonding #compositebondingbirmingham #suttoncoldfield
Are those ice lollies and cold drinks making you jump? Do you want to whiten your teeth for the summer but are worried they will be sensitive?🦷🍦
MI Paste could be your new best friend!
 
This topical paste is applied directly to the teeth and contains calcium and phosphate to help replenish and strengthen enamel, reducing sensitivity and protecting the teeth. It is incredibly effective and works almost immediately.
 
You can pick it up at the practice - and don’t forget, Sparkle Club members get 5% off all our oral hygiene products! ✨
 
And remember - tooth sensitivity can be a sign of thinning enamel or tooth decay, so do always come and get it checked.

#sensitiveteeth #suttoncoldfield
It’s another scorcher today! ☀️🔥

We’re back open after the long weekend, and the practice is looking splendid in the sunshine.

We have emergency appointments available with Dr Sarah today if the bank holiday has left you with any dental dramas - just give us a call on 0121 382 8544. 📞

...And if nothing else, our reception has the air con on full blast if you need a quick escape from the heat! ❄️

#suttoncoldfield #suttoncoldfieldbusiness #suttoncoldfielddentist #ukheatwave
Six Month Smiles BACD - British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry British Dental Association The Oral Health Foundation GDC