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Get in touch with us
Do not fill this form out if you’re a solicitor.
Dealing With Dental Anxiety
Contact us today to set up an appointment at any of our dental clinics.
What Dental Anxiety Looks And Feels Like
While it is very common to feel some nervousness about going to the dentist, dental anxiety can be a severe problem for a lot of people. If you or a member of your family is very anxious about receiving dental care, it can take many different forms, including:
- A fast heart rate
- Sweating
- Visible signs of distress, including crying, panic attacks, and lashing out
- Fainting
- Feeling trapped
- Regularly missing appointments
What Causes Dental Anxiety
- Pre-existing issues with anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Traumatic experiences with other kinds of healthcare providers
- Fear of illness
How Common Is Dental Anxiety?
It is important to know that people with dental anxiety are not alone. Fear or anxiety about going to the dentist is a very common feeling — a majority of adults experience at least some fear or nervousness before and during dental visits. While there are some legitimate reasons for dental anxiety (like some of the causes mentioned above), one way that you can begin to feel better about the dentist is to realize that your anxiety is most likely a learned feeling, meaning it can be changed.
Our clinic will do everything possible to lessen or eliminate the causes of fear and anxiety that you feel, up to and including sedation dentistry. Keep reading this page to find a list of other methods that can help reduce your anxiety about seeing the dentist or give any of our clinics a call to set up an appointment.
How Dental Anxiety Negatively Impacts Your Health
While it can be good for your health to avoid some things that cause you anxiety, not visiting the dentist for teeth cleanings, X-rays, and other routine dental care can have very serious consequences for your health, including:
- Damage to your teeth, gums, tongue, and jaw could be prevented with regular checkups and preventative care
- Lost and/or broken teeth
- Gum disease
- Bone loss
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Oral cancer
Unfortunately, the longer you put off going to the dentist, the more severe many of these problems can be, which also means that the treatments can be more intense, more expensive, and possibly more painful. This avoidance of the dentist turns into a vicious cycle where fear of the consequences of lackluster dental health can lead to worse dental health.
If you are ready to take control of your oral health, contact Trillium Dentistry in Ottawa today. We will work with you to find a plan that will work for you. Whether we need to discuss sedation dentistry or multiple appointments to help alleviate your anxiety, we are happy to accommodate you.
Testimonials
Very kind, thoughtful and professional and treatments were executed with the least pain possible.
Also very accommodating when urgent care was needed.
Right from the moment to enter to a tallented team of dentists, assistants, & hygienist.
I was told the amount of years the staff have been working as a smooth delightful teams.
To me the later is extremely important to me.
Without a doubt if your looking for a forever dental team. This is where you should go.
☺️
That was the day I spoke with Lynn about a very upsetting experience I had at a different dental clinic. I was discouraged, embarrassed, and honestly afraid to try again. I wasn’t just looking for a new dentist — I was looking for a place that would make me feel safe.
Lynn listened to me with patience and compassion. She didn’t rush me. She didn’t minimize what I felt. She treated my story with care.
We had to wait until February 15 for my government dental benefits to become active, and that’s why my first appointment was scheduled for February 20, 2026. During that waiting period, I carried a mix of anxiety and hope. But when I finally walked into Trillium Dental at Westgate Mall on February 20, I immediately felt something different.
Lynn remembered me. She remembered our conversation. I wasn’t just another name on a schedule. That alone meant more than she probably realizes. By the time I left that day, it didn’t feel like I had just met a staff member — it felt like I had connected with someone who genuinely cared. Somehow, so naturally, we became friendly in the most comforting way.
She made sure I was placed with Dr. Nair — and that decision changed everything for me.
Dr. Nair is one of the most compassionate and gentle healthcare professionals I have ever encountered. She listened to my worries without interrupting. She did not criticize my mouth or make me feel ashamed for staying away from dental care for years. Instead, she focused on what could be done moving forward. We completed the necessary exams and tests, and for the first time in a long time, I felt calm sitting in a dental chair.
And Rawan, the R.D.H., deserves just as much recognition. As someone who hadn’t seen a hygienist in years, I felt self-conscious and nervous. But Rawan treated me with patience, respect, and warmth. She was gentle and reassuring. She made something I feared feel manageable. That kind of care isn’t just technical skill — it’s heart.
I returned again on Friday, February 27 for further treatment, and the kindness was consistent. It wasn’t just a good first impression. It was genuine compassion.
What truly touched me was their understanding of my life circumstances. I am currently job searching and rebuilding stability. Financially, things are tight. Instead of making me feel small about that, they helped me sign up for the government dental insurance program and reassured me that my health still matters — even during difficult seasons.
Trillium Dental didn’t just treat my teeth. They restored my trust in healthcare. They reminded me that compassion still exists in medical spaces.
To Lynn, Dr. Nair, Rawan, and the entire team — thank you. You may do this every day, but for me, this experience was healing.
If you have been scared to go back to the dentist, if you feel embarrassed, or if life has simply made things difficult — this is the place that will meet you with dignity and humanity.
Forever grateful. 💙
Would highly recommend