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 is Dr. Bing from Innova Dental. Good to have you here!

Dr. Bing:
Thanks for having me, Glenn—it's good to be here as usual.

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

Dr. Bing:
It’s actually 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 understand, and we’ve created a space where patients feel calm, safe, and in control.

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

Dr. Bing:
At Innova Dental, we follow a comfortable 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 additional 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 promptly and it’s usually 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 calm.

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

Glenn Hartas:
Well, that’s a comprehensive process. How do patients know which option is right for them?

Dr. Bing:
That’s part of our initial consult. We’ll go through your concerns, medical history, and preferences, then based on what we find, we recommend the appropriate choice. It's never one-size-fits-all—we personalise everything to give you proper 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 proper thing to do is start with a chat—no pressure, no poking around—just a conversation. It could be the beginning of a 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.