Need to find a friendly dentist, don't know how...

[Gwendolyn]

Hello

My problem is that I need to find a new dentist to take care of my teeth problems. I'm looking for someone who is friendly, competent and lets me take part in making desicions about treatment ( someone who is not authoritarian and makes all the desicions for you). I've looked through phone lists and ads. I can't make up my mind... Tried asking around to but one of the dentists that my friend referred to is quite old. I was hurt emotionally by former dentists that I have been seeing.

 

[Gwendolyn]

I'm afriad of going to the dentist

I'm afraid of going to the dentist because I feel the dentist lacks empathy and judgement. I looked at some local ads on the internet and it made me feel worse because of what the dentists wrote about themselves. I'm afraid that next time I have an appoinment with a person practising dentistry on me, this person will be exactly like the former dentist and that it will be a negative experience. I don't know where to start to make some thing positive out of the situation.

 

[Gwendolyn]

dental hygiene literature

I looked at some dental hygiene literature it helped a little, I read the part about "caries managment" very informative.

 

[brit]

You can find tips here for finding a sympathetic dentist:

How to find a dentist for nervous patients

Discover how to find a dentist who is good with nervous, scared or phobic patients - and who to avoid!

www.dentalfearcentral.org

Internet chat sites etc can also be a good source of referrals.

Not sure what you mean by 'hurt emotionally'...although I can guess.....was there a physical pain issue as well?
It can be a good idea to choose someone who is the opposite of your bad dentist so if it was a bloke, choose a woman....if they were old choose someone slightly younger etc. It's a bit hard without knowing where in Europe you are. All dentists in Western countries need your consent to carry out procedures and you have the right to walk out at any point. No one should be doing work unexplained especially to an adult.