Episode: How Innova Dental can Help with Dental Anxiety

🎙️ Bite-Sized Dental | Episode: How Innova Dental can Help with Dental Anxiety
Hosts: Dr Bing Lee & Glenn Hartas

Transcript

Glenn Hartas:
This is Glenn at Way FM 105.3 — your positive alternative —and joining me in the studio today is Dr. Bing from Innova Dental. Good to have you here!

Dr. Bing:
Thanks for having me, Glenn—it's always great to be here.

Glenn Hartas:
Let’s talk about something a lot of people experience—dental anxiety. What causes it, and how common is it?

Dr. Bing:
It’s actually very common—up to one in three people feel nervous about seeing the dentist. It can come from past trauma, fear of pain, or just feeling vulnerable in the chair. The good news? We completely understand, and we’ve created a space where patients feel calm, safe, and in control.

Glenn Hartas:
That’s great to hear. So, what does Innova Dental do differently for nervous patients?

Dr. Bing:
At Innova Dental, we’ve built a comfort-first approach. We start by listening—really listening—to what’s causing the fear. Then we tailor the experience: we offer warm blankets, noise-cancelling headphones, Netflix, and more. But if extra support is needed, we have many options too.

Glenn Hartas:
Speaking of options, I’ve heard terms like happy gas and general anaesthetic. Can you break those down for us?

Dr. Bing:
Absolutely! We offer three levels of support:

Happy gas, or nitrous oxide, helps you relax and wears off quickly and it’s usually pretty good for patients with mild to moderate anxiety.

Otherwise, we can also prescribe some medication, such as a low dose sedative, which takes the edge off—you’re still awake and you can still respond, but you’ll feel more calm.

For patients with severe anxiety for major procedures, we can arrange general anaesthesia, where you’re completely asleep. It’s all done safely, and we talk through every option in advance.

Glenn Hartas:
Wow—that’s very comprehensive. How do patients know which option is right for them?

Dr. Bing:
That’s part of our first consult. We’ll go through your concerns, medical history, and preferences, then based on what we find, we recommend the most appropriate choice. It's never one-size-fits-all—we personalise everything to give you the best possible experience.

Glenn Hartas:
Last question, Dr. Bing—what would you say to someone who’s been putting off a visit for years because they’re scared, like my mum?

Dr. Bing:
You’re not alone, and we’re not here to judge. Our whole team is trained to support you every step of the way. The best thing to do is start with a chat—no pressure, no poking around—just a conversation. It could be the beginning of a brand new, confident smile.

Glenn Hartas:
That’s Dr. Bing from Innova Dental, folks. If fear has been holding you back, now’s the time to reach out. Thanks so much for joining us!

Dr. Bing:
Thanks, Glenn!

Tune in live every Monday and Friday on Way FM 105.3 or head to https://www.wayfm.org.au/on-air/mornings/ for more details.