While it’s not uncommon for patients to leave their dentist’s office with a cleaner or brighter smile, it is special to have a patient visit that alters their lives forever.
Meet Ashley. She is a 38-year-old newlywed who moved to Richmond with her husband four years ago. While enjoying a snack one night, she noticed that her bottom tooth was loose.
We can all imagine this being something to resolve urgently with a visit to the dentist. But for Ashley, this issue flooded her with anxiety. In 1998, she underwent jaw reconstruction surgery that left her traumatized and as a result, she avoided the dentist for more than 10 years.
Ashley mustered the courage to make an appointment at Midlothian Dental Center to see Dr. Hoover. The hygienist that cleaned her teeth was very kind and went above and beyond to address every aspect of care. The Midlothian Dental Center ensured she took her time with Ashley, being well aware that she had anxiety about dental procedures.
Upon further examination, the hygienist and Dr. Hoover noticed that Ashley had an unusual sore in her mouth that was not healing properly. They suggested that she see a general practitioner to rule out any possibility of serious health complications. Just as suspected, there was more to it than met the eye. Ashley was diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes. Had these conditions been left untreated, she may have experienced worse symptoms, and potentially a coma.
Since her diagnosis, Ashley’s initial problem of gum recession has gotten better and her sore has completely healed. She has made improvements to her health which has greatly improved her quality of life in the process. She now feels excited about her dentist appointments, an experience she once dreaded, and has even inspired her husband to visit the dentist.
Dental anxiety is one of the leading factors causing people to avoid dental care. This stress can come from a plethora of factors such as fear of dental tools, negative past experiences, or lack of trust in your provider. That is exactly why each of our dentists go the extra mile to get to know their patients to get to the root of each problem or area of concern they may have.
Ashley previously suffered major dental anxiety. Her time with us has dissolved all feelings of unease. As dentists and hygienists, there’s nothing that makes us happier as a dental team than a patient who finally feels comfortable at the dentist.
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