Past experiences
Tell us what happened and which part you do not want repeated.
Ivy Dental supports nervous patients with clear explanations, agreed pause signals, staged treatment planning, and costs discussed before treatment. Ivy Dental does not offer sedation dentistry and may refer when sedation or specialist facilities are required.
Nervous patients
You can ask us to slow the appointment down.
Tell us what makes dental visits hard. We can explain before starting, agree on a pause signal, discuss costs, and separate what is urgent from what can be planned.
I am nervous and I need each step explained. That one sentence gives the reception and clinical teams something practical to plan around.
Pause signalExplain firstNo judgement
What we mean by support
A calmer process is not sedation.
Ivy Dental does not provide sedation dentistry. Our role is to make ordinary dental care more predictable through communication, pacing, consent, and practical control cues. If safe care needs sedation or another setting, we discuss referral.
- 01Tell us the specific fear, trigger, or past experience before treatment starts.
- 02Agree on how information, pauses, and decisions will work during the visit.
- 03Use referral when communication changes alone cannot make treatment safe or tolerable.
Anxiety is specific
Tell us what part is difficult.
Different worries need different adjustments. A useful booking note is more specific than simply saying you dislike the dentist.
Needle or pain fear
Ask for the anaesthetic plan, what sensations to expect, and how the dentist will check comfort.
Embarrassment
Tell us if shame has delayed care. We can focus on findings and priorities without commentary about the past.
Sounds, smells, or gagging
Headphones, breaks, positioning, suction, and shorter steps may help depending on the procedure.
Cost uncertainty
Ask for options, priorities, and fees before treatment, including what can reasonably be staged.
Loss of control
Agree on a pause signal and how much explanation you want before each step.
During the appointment
Make control visible and practical.
The plan should work for both patient comfort and clinical safety. Agree on it while everyone can still talk comfortably.
Name the main concern
Tell reception, the assistant, or the dentist what you are worried about and what has helped before.
Choose the level of explanation
Some people want every detail. Others want a simple preview of the next step. Tell us which is better.
Agree on a pause signal
A raised hand can mean stop, rinse, breathe, or ask a question. The dentist first makes the mouth safe.
Separate assessment from treatment
Where clinically appropriate, the first visit can focus on findings, X-rays, options, priorities, and costs.
Stage what can wait
A written plan can break care into manageable appointments while keeping urgent problems visible.
The Ivy standard
Nervous is useful information, not an apology.
When the team understands the trigger, the appointment can be planned around clearer communication and realistic steps.
- 01Listen before starting
We identify the concern and the practical adjustment that might help.
- 02Explain choices and costs
You should understand the proposed step before deciding.
- 03Respect the limit
If safe care requires sedation or specialist facilities, we do not pretend pacing alone is enough.
Before you arrive
Small details make the plan more usable.
You do not have to prepare perfectly. A few practical choices can reduce uncertainty on the day.
Add a note to the booking
Say that you are nervous and name the main concern, such as needles, gagging, cost, sounds, or a past experience.
Bring a support person
If this would help, ask the clinic in advance so privacy, space, and consent can be planned.
Bring headphones
They may help with sound during parts of an appointment where communication is still safe.
Write down questions
Include what is urgent, what can wait, alternatives, fees, and what happens if you pause.
Avoid self-medicating
Do not take alcohol, sedatives, or someone else’s medicine to manage the appointment. Tell us about all medicines and substances taken.
Your first appointment
Start with information if that feels manageable.
A first visit can focus on listening, examination, imaging when needed, priorities, and costs. Whether treatment can wait depends on the findings.
- 01Tell us the main fear or trigger when booking.
- 02Ask for a pause signal and your preferred level of explanation.
- 03Bring a medicine list and tell us if you have taken anything for anxiety.
- 04Ask what is urgent, what can be staged, and what each proposed step costs.
Honest expectations
Communication can help, but it has clinical limits.
No single approach works for every person or procedure. The plan must stay safe, consensual, and appropriate for the treatment required.
What Ivy Dental can adjust
- Explanation before each step
- Appointment pacing and planned pauses
- A clear stop or pause signal
- Staged planning and written costs where clinically appropriate
What may need another pathway
- Sedation or general anaesthesia
- Complex behavioural, medical, or procedural needs
- Care that requires specialist or hospital facilities
- An urgent condition that cannot safely be delayed
Common questions
Answers before you book.
These are general answers. Advice and treatment depend on an individual assessment.
Can I book a first appointment just to talk?
Yes. The visit can focus on listening, assessment, and planning. Tell us when you book that you would prefer a low-pressure first appointment. What can safely wait depends on the findings and any urgent symptoms.
What if I am embarrassed about my teeth?
You do not need to apologise. Tell us that embarrassment is part of the anxiety if you can. The appointment starts with what is happening now, what is urgent, and what choices are available.
Can I ask the dentist to stop?
Yes. Agree on a pause signal before treatment starts. A raised hand can mean stop, rinse, breathe, or ask a question. The dentist may need a moment to make the mouth safe before fully stopping.
Does Ivy Dental offer sedation dentistry?
No. Ivy Dental does not provide sedation dentistry. We can still adjust communication, pacing, appointment length, and pause signals. If treatment requires sedation or specialist facilities, we can discuss an appropriate referral.
Can costs be discussed before treatment?
Yes. Ask for findings, priorities, options, and fees to be explained before treatment begins. Urgent care may sometimes need a staged plan, but you should still understand the proposed step and its fee before consenting.
Can I bring a support person?
Usually, yes. Let the clinic know when you book so the team can plan the room and privacy appropriately. The patient still needs to participate in consent where they have capacity.
Choose a clinic
Available at Everton Park and Nundah.
Both clinics are open 7 days. Choose the location that works best for your assessment and follow-up care.
Ivy Dental Brisbane
Everton Park
471 South Pine Road
Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm · Sat and Sun 9am to 5pmBook at Everton ParkIvy Dental Brisbane
Nundah
20 Nellie Street
Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm · Sat and Sun 9am to 5pmBook at NundahA clearer first step
Tell us what would make the first step easier.
Book online or call the clinic. Add a note that you are nervous and name the main concern so the team can plan around it.
Call (07) 3266 7120Ivy Dental does not offer sedation dentistry.