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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Day 11 of 12 days of dental tips! 🦷✨
 
For the past few weeks, Celia has been sharing helpful tips, practical tricks, and a little reassurance to keep your smile healthy and shining all year round.

Only 2 days to go and today we’re answering an important question: Why do gums bleed?
 
#dentaltips #gums #dentist #ukdentist #suttoncoldfield
Day 10 of 12 days of dental tips! 🎄🦷
 
In this New Year’s edition, Celia has the 3 best resolutions you can make to benefit your smile now and throughout 2026 🌟

#newyears #newyear #dentaltips #suttoncoldfield
Day 9 of 12 days of dental tips! 🎄🦷

Today is New Year’s Eve, and with many of us enjoying a drink or two this evening, Celia is sharing the number one thing you shouldn’t do if you’re sick! 

#newyearseve #suttoncoldfield #privatedentist
We are open today and here until 3pm with appointments available if you've had any dental disasters over the festive break!

📞 Just give us a call on 0121 382 8544
Day 8 of 12 days of dental tips! 🎄🦷
 
Everyday, Celia is sharing tips to keep your smile as healthy as possible, this Christmas and all year round.
 
Today, learn the most effective way to clean your teeth...
 
#dentaltip #dentalhealth #oralhealth #suttoncoldfield #dentist #dentistlife #ukdentist
Before ➡️ After 😁

Straightened, brightened, refined.

Invisalign corrected the rotation of our patient's lower front teeth, whitening lifted the shade, and a touch of composite bonding brought everything together for a fresh, natural-looking smile! ✨

#invisalign #smilemakeover #teethwhitening #suttoncoldfield #birminghamdentist #ukdentist #compositebonding
It means so much to us when patients are happy to travel that extra distance to receive their dental care with us. Thank you for placing your trust in our team! 🚗❤
It’s not just any day of 12 days of dental tips... It’s CHRISTMAS! 🎄🌟
 
So for today, Celia has an extra special, extra important message to share... 🦷
 
#dentaltip #dentalhealth #oralhealth #suttoncoldfield #dentist #dentistlife #ukdentist
Wishing everyone celebrating today a wonderful Christmas, filled with joy, love, and plenty of smiles! 🎄😁

A huge thank you to our dashing patients for their fabulous Christmas jumper pics. We hope you’re all looking just as festive and fabulous today!
Day 6 of 12 days of dental tips! 🎄🦷
 
Everyday, Dr Celia is sharing tips to keep your smile sparkling this Christmas season!
 
We’re already halfway through, and today, Celia is talking about how acid effects your teeth...
 
#dentaltip #dentalhealth #oralhealth #suttoncoldfield #dentist #dentistlife #ukdentist
It's only a couple of days til the big day... Here are our top tips to keep your smile sparking this Christmas!

💧 Rinse with water or mouthwash after mulled wine, fizz, or hot chocolate to help protect your enamel and reduce the risk of staining

🍬 Enjoy festive treats… but try not to graze all day, as your teeth need a break!

🦷 Stick to brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, even after late nights

❄️ Use interdental brushes or floss to clear away sneaky crumbs

🎅 Chew sugar-free gum after snacks to boost saliva and protect your smile
Six Month Smiles BACD - British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry British Dental Association The Oral Health Foundation GDC