Dental Anxiety

[cbg150]

I will be moving to the Villages soon and one of the things I worry about is finding a good dentist. After a traumatizing experience I now have a great dentist in NYC who specializes in dental anxiety. I have been going to him for years and he makes me feel very comfortable. Before my visits he has me take something to lessen my anxiety. He is extremely gentle and he uses state of the art equipment, explaining everything before he does it. Can anybody recommend a general dentist in the Villages who might offer a similar level of care?

[al & jane]

I will be moving to the Villages soon and one of the things I worry about is finding a good dentist. After a traumatizing experience I now have a great dentist in NYC who specializes in dental anxiety. I have been going to him for years and he makes me feel very comfortable. Before my visits he has me take something to lessen my anxiety. He is extremely gentle and he uses state of the art equipment, explaining everything before he does it. Can anybody recommend a general dentist in the Villages who might offer a similar level of care?

Dr. Maria Luong at Spa Dentistry in Spanish Springs. She is thorough, gentle and very tuned in to patient anxiety. From the front desk to the hygenist to the Dr. they are the best I've experienced in my 65 years. She also doesn't try to "sell" you services you don't need as more and more dentists are prone to do.

[DonH57]

I'm gratefull someone asked a question I was going to ask and even more gratefull someone answered it. I have the dental anxiety issue as well. I will look into them. Thanks

[Whimsey]

I'm sure there are many out there with dental anxiety. Do any of the dentists use nitrous oxide (laughing gas) + novacaine if drilling? That always works for me.

[Madelaine Amee]

I will be moving to the Villages soon and one of the things I worry about is finding a good dentist. After a traumatizing experience I now have a great dentist in NYC who specializes in dental anxiety. I have been going to him for years and he makes me feel very comfortable. Before my visits he has me take something to lessen my anxiety. He is extremely gentle and he uses state of the art equipment, explaining everything before he does it. Can anybody recommend a general dentist in the Villages who might offer a similar level of care?

You will find a multitude of posts on this forum concerning good dentists and from the answers, I would say we have some of the best. I too have a problem with dental work and I dreaded leaving my dentist from up North, but as it happens he was retiring at the same time I was so I would have needed to find another dentist. I am more than happy with the local dentist I use. Do a search on dentists, you will find numerous excellent references.

[justjim]

I believe that a number of people our age are in this same boat with "dental nightmares.". I had a Dentist as a youth that was more like a blacksmith instead of a Dentist. I will leave it at that.......

[DonH57]

Exactly, justjim. That's where my issues started as having a butcher for a child hood dentist. I know several others around our age with dental anxieties.

[delima2000]

I found that dr.maria luong at serenity dental spa is the only one who uses nitrous oxide. You need to ask for it and our insurance doesn't pay for it. She charges by the hour of gas time not expensive . The other poster is right she does not try to up sell any service. Been gong to her since we moved here 2 years ago and this is the first time that I like to go to the dentist. My family is laughing about this but I told them once you see her and the office staff you will know why I now love going to the dentist.

[Debfrommaine]

I am a huge fan of Dr. Luong too.......never had to use the "gas" because she is so good a talking me through my anxiety......great staff too!

[delima2000]

Cbj150 I just sent you a pm.

[Justjac]

Dr. Maria Luong at Spa Dentistry in Spanish Springs. She is thorough, gentle and very tuned in to patient anxiety. From the front desk to the hygenist to the Dr. they are the best I've experienced in my 65 years. She also doesn't try to "sell" you services you don't need as more and more dentists are prone to do.
Yowser...this sure was not the experience I encountered. Went in for just a simple cleaning and came out traumatized. Their little dental assistant wanted to perform a periodental procedure prior to the dentist even seeing my teeth....when I hesitated and questioned the costs, she treated me like a child...told me she didn't have time...told me the procedure would be covered by my insurance (which is excellent and covers 100%) but when I was leaving, they tried a $50 co-pay which my insurance doesn't require...AND informed me that I would owe out of my own pocket $300 for the second treatment...the treatment they originally told me would be covered by the insurance company. PEOPLE BEWARE...the dentists in this area are somewhat unethical in their billing practices. Read up on your insurance policies and question the receptionist before handing over your check!

[Parker]

I went to Dr. Luong based on the glowing reviews here. My experience may have been a very isolated event but it was not good. They gave me an appointment time but neglected to tell me to come 30 minutes earlier on first visit, made me feel somewhat scolded. The hygienist had a cold and was sniffling the whole time, and had painful technique. The Dr. must have been busy, as she rushed in to examine my mouth, distractedly asked me the same question twice, then told her assistant I needed two filling replacements without ever addressing me about it. My prior dentist up north, who was excellent, never told me this. And the next dentist did not tell me this. So I wouldn't necessarily say she was upselling, but let's just say I never went back.

Just for those who say I must be picky, I've never had a problem with a dentist before. I'm not overly sensitive or afraid, and am fairly pain-tolerant. Just saying.

[graciegirl]

We have some very fine dentists here is this area and some shysters.

The first one I went to here did an examination on me and then ushered me into a room set up like an estate planning area to tell me that I needed over fourteen thousand dollars worth of dental work and they could do it on an easy payment plan.

Two things.

I haven't missed a dental appointment every six months for decades.

I smelled a huge rat and I was right. I continued my search for a good dentist.

We now go to what we consider to be an ethical practice: Palm Dental behind Lang Eye off 466 across from the High School. Drs. Williams and Jabar, both women. They do offer medicine for anxiety, but I haven't used it. They were both trained at University of Gainesville Dental School.

[Justjac]

We have some very fine dentists here is this area and some shysters.

The first one I went to here did an examination on me and then ushered me into a room set up like an estate planning area to tell me that I needed over fourteen thousand dollars worth of dental work and they could do it on an easy payment plan.

Two things.

I haven't missed a dental appointment every six months for decades.

I smelled a huge rat and I was right. I continued my search for a good dentist.

We now go to what we consider to be an ethical practice: Palm Dental behind Lang Eye off 466 across from the High School. Drs. Williams and Jabar, both women. They do offer medicine for anxiety, but I haven't used it. They were both trained at University of Gainesville Dental School.
Parker and Gracie, I'm somewhat relieved to hear I wasn't over-reacting to my experiences with the dentists down here.

I, too, have practiced good dental hygiene, going every three months to have my teeth cleaned during the last 15 years.

Prior to moving here, I had my final exam with my Michigan dentist. He had told me that if I continued my regular habits, I shouldn't have to worry about having any extreme dental work done. Alas, I fell prey to a dentist who insisted I needed a crown, which then required a root canal, which then required more work.

As I said in previous posts, I could have flown home to my Michigan dentist and learned...I was being scammed. Fool me once, shame on me....fool me twice, not going to be too nice.

[mariluu65]

I will be moving to the Villages soon and one of the things I worry about is finding a good dentist. After a traumatizing experience I now have a great dentist in NYC who specializes in dental anxiety. I have been going to him for years and he makes me feel very comfortable. Before my visits he has me take something to lessen my anxiety. He is extremely gentle and he uses state of the art equipment, explaining everything before he does it. Can anybody recommend a general dentist in the Villages who might offer a similar level of care?

I have a wonderful new dentist in Ocala who uses laughing gas, odorless with no side effects. Also will prescribe a tranquilizer if you would rather. Many of the dentists in the Villages I am sure will do the same. My dentist is Jamie Amir. He is young and has all the latest techniques and tools. Love him. His brother is a regular dentist and he is a periodontal dentist.