At Larkham House Dental Practice, we promise to look after you really well, especially our anxious patients, offering only gentle dentistry.

Our focus is on providing exceptional care for dental patients who experience dental phobia. Our compassionate and knowledgeable team will have open conversations with you in a comfortable and calming atmosphere to address your anxieties. We make sure to present you with all the available options and thoroughly explain your treatment plan, including costs and steps involved, before proceeding with any procedures. Additionally, we implement signals to ensure you can easily communicate with us if you need to take a break during treatment.

Dental Advances

If you haven’t seen a dentist for several years because of fear or anxiety, be reassured that you should find the experience more bearable nowadays.

Advances in technology have also improved dentistry. Treatment can now be completely painless. A numbing gel can also be used to numb your gums before an injection so you don’t feel the needle.

Visit Dental Fear Central for information on dental anxiety.

How do we manage dental pain for anxious patients?

Many of our very nervous patients are now comfortable with our ‘no pain’ techniques and numbing gels, there are various methods and techniques we can use to alleviate your dental anxiety and pain. Dependent on your tolerance and sensitivity we can use numbing agents (topical for tenderness) or sedatives (by injection for nerve sensitivity) during treatment.

We encourage our patients to listen to their favourite music or an audiobook during treatment, while always being able to alert the dentist or hygienist. If you are experiencing discomfort or want us to give you a moment, on your agreed signal we will stop immediately, ensuring that you always remain in control of your visit to Larkham House.

Tips on how to ease your dental fear

1. Find an understanding dentist.
2. Visit the surgery, meet your dentist and tell them about your fears
3. Pick an appointment early in the morning, so you don’t spend all day dreading it.
4. Your first appointment will simply be a check-up, with no fillings, drills or needles.
5. Take a friend to accompany you throughout the check-up.
6. Agree on a sign with your dentist to signal that you need a break and want them to stop, keeping you in control.
7. Start gradually with a clean and polish then work up to more extensive treatment.
8. Take your phone and earphones with you, so you can listen to music to help you relax.

IV Sedation at Abbey Mead Dental & Implant Clinic

Seamless Referrals Through Larkham House Dental Practice

At Larkham House, we understand that some patients experience significant anxiety during dental visits, preventing them from getting the care they need.  Dental anxiety is incredibly common, and recent surveys reveal just how widespread this concern is. According to a survey conducted by DentalPhobia.co.uk, as many as 53% of UK adults admit to feeling anxious about visiting the dentist, with 17% saying they experience extreme fear. Whether it’s due to a previous negative experience, fear of needles, or general dental phobia, rest assured you’re not alone—and we’re here to help.

That’s why we’re excited to announce that IV sedation is now available at our sister practice, Abbey Mead Dental & Implant Clinic, offering a more comfortable experience for patients who require it.

How the Referral Process Works

For patients at Larkham House Dental Practice who may benefit from IV sedation, we’ve made the referral process straight forward and efficient. Your dentist can refer by submitting a referral form on Abbey Mead Dental & Implant Clinic’s website.

Once referred,  you will be invited to visit Abbey Mead Dental & Implant Clinic in Tavistock for a consultation.  Then one of our Consultant Anaesthetists will assess to determine if IV sedation is appropriate. Throughout your care, we will keep you fully informed. Once treatment is completed, you will return to Larkham House for continued dental care with all necessary updates provided.

If you think you could benefit from IV sedation don’t hesitate to speak to your dentist or therapist. We’re here to ensure you receive the safest, most comfortable care possible.

Contact us today to learn more about the referral process or to discuss any specific patient needs.