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Does it matter to you if there are windows in the treatment room!?

N

Nicci

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2016
Messages
85
I appreciate this may be a little odd..
But does it matter to you if there's windows in the treatment room!?

I'm not sure if this stems from my agoraphobia or fear of small spaces, but at my new practice there aren't any..
I noticed it the first time, but I figured I'd get used to it.
The second time I still noticed it and felt a bit trapped, possibly in part due to having work done.. but nonetheless I felt it raised my anxiety a little.

I have felt faint in the past and thankfully they opened a window for me which helped, obviously that's no longer an option and it plays on my mind a bit.

I don't want to keep looking for yet another dentist. She seemed quite thorough, not as vocal as I'd like.. long silences, no "you're doing really well" to help me along, not much said re the processes.. her work seemed ok though so I don't know how fussy to be!?

I saw another private dentist.. plenty of windows yet really didn't like his demeanor or much else enough to allow work to proceed.

Of course the dentist matters much more than a window (!).. but do things like that factor in your decision of where to go?
 
I have never really thought about it much, but I do like having windows. My current dentist has windows in every exam room (office is a converted house), and they have bird feeders outside the windows, and trees. It helps my anxiety to watch the birds and squirrels while I wait.
 
Interesting. Now that I think about it, I believe most dental offices I went with no windows in the treatment room had good temperature control while the ones with windows were either too cold or too warm. I find being too warm doesn’t help my anxiety, while being too cold is easy too adjust with a blanket.
 
I can absolutely imagine that the lack of windows is giving you a bit more of anxiety and it‘s great that you are going to your dentist anyway. This may be a good chance to get used to places that have no windows. I see the symbolic value of a window as well - as geos mentioned, most practices have some kind of a system to filter the air and check temperature, probably those are much better than a window, but I believe it‘s what you connect with the window that gives you relief (being able to get air in, having a feeling of the room being more open etc.).
For me, it‘s the door - the chair in my dentist‘s office is placed in a way that I see the door at all times and I noticed how hugely calming this is for me. Haven‘t had it in any other dental practice, the doors there were usually in my back. If I was to look for another practice.
 
With my old dentist, he's location has windows and i really loved it because it made it so much more soothing waiting for him.

I don't know what my new dentist(Switching due to the new place taking insurance for general dentistry) office will be like but i really hope its the same.
 
My dentist has windows but they have this covered coating on them bc the office is street level. I can see shapes go by. And feet. But thats about it. I carry a little handheld fan with me everywhere bc i get claustrophobic! Helps a lot!
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one then. It does make more sense to me now.. I'm not sure if it's the windows that makes it feel claustrophobic or that it's generally a small room anyway, the smallest I've ever been in tbh, there's enough room for the dentists chair and walking room down the sides, that's about it.. cabinets are at the top (behind the chair) but it's very closed in compared to everywhere else I've been.. definitely not a chance of birdwatching! Which sounds lovely btw x
ty everyone for replying xx
 
Now that you mention it….this is a huge deal! I once saw a specialist in Chicago and the patient chair faced a massive window that overlooked the lake; seeing all the boats was very relaxing! My regular dentist, who I had for 18 years, had a window in each room looking out over trees. We moved a year ago and I had to find a new dentist, and I just realized that there are no windows at all and that the patient rooms are tiny. I have other reasons for not liking this particular dentist, but not having a window probably contributes to my anxiety.
 
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