Welcome to Calm & Gentle Dental Care

Exceeding Expectations in Dentistry

Would you like a painless and pleasant dentistry experience? You can – with Calm & Gentle Dental Care! Contact us today to find out more...

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Specialists in Lowering Anxiety

Emergency Appointments Available

We'll put the smile back on your face!

Are you looking for a calm & gentle dental experience?

Calm & Gentle Dental Care, Rustington have been providing exceptional dentistry for residents of the town and surrounding areas for many years now.

Our experience has taught us just how many patients have a fear of the dentist or suffer from real anxiety that in some cases prevents patients from visiting the dentist and thus neglecting the oral health. This neglect leads to tooth loss and pain which eventually can destroy a patients self-confidence which impacts their quality of life.

Pieter Claassen, founder of Calm & Gentle Dental Care experienced his own fears as a child that have helped carve his future as an empathic, caring dentist with an excellent chair-side manor which his patients love.

“I believe in calm and gentle dentistry where giving my patients time to talk and allow me to understand their needs and expectations is paramount. It’s my mission to reduce the anxiety they feel and create happy patients that no longer experience fear when they think about visiting the dentist!”

Our Unique Three Programmes

With this in mind we have created three programmes to help patients over-come their fear of the dentist. Each programme caters to the individual needs of the patient allowing us to identify ‘why’ a patient has developed this fear. We know how to care for people, we want to connect with you, listen to your needs and be responsive to ensure that your journey with us is pleasurable and remembered for the right reasons.

Maybe you are looking for routine care or you would like to see one of our hygienist. It could be that you have always dreamt of having a Hollywood smile or to get rid of those annoying dentures with dental implants…whatever your reason for contacting us, we would be privileged to care for your dental health and if necessary, take baby steps to help you achieve the smile you have always wanted.

How We Deal with Your Fear

We have three programmes that help our patients overcome their fear. The level of fear is quickly identified and a programme put in place allowing the entire team to recognise the individual patient’s fear.

One

You do not enjoy visiting the dentist however, you attend regularly.

Two

Your anxiety and fear can cause you to put of attending however, you can control your fear when you experience dental problems.

Three

You have not seen a dentist in many years and your fear controls you.

Call today to book an appointment so we can assess your fear level 01903 444 125

Featured Treatments

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Ready to Book Your Treatment?

Contact us today to see what we can do for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. WHy am I afraid of the Dentist?

Being 'afraid of the dentist' may mean different things to different people. It can help once you know what it is that worries you most. Maybe the sounds and smells bring back memories of bad experiences as a child, or make you think that having treatment will hurt. The good news is that here at Calm and Gentle Dental Care we are dedicated to helping patients understand their fear and overcoming it! By completing one of our Anxiety Questionnaires we can identify your fear and enrol you on a programme developed especially for you. We find that kindness and gentleness helps too.

Q. How do I choose a dentist?

Many dentists today offer special treatment for nervous patients. The first fear to deal with is the fear of telling other people that you are afraid of dental treatment. If you can discuss it with your friends or colleagues you are likely to find someone else who has similar problems. We are so proud to have helped hundreds of patients over the years and they too want to shout it from the roof tops…listen and read our happy patients success stories, one day that will be you!

q. I haven't been to the dentist in a long time, Will I need Treatment?

Years ago it was normal for people to need fillings every time they went to their dentist, but things have changed for the better now. The dental team will now want to help you have, and keep, a healthy mouth and healthy teeth. Although you may not have seen a dentist in year, you may be surprised at how little treatment you need. Prolong it can often increase our anxiety. Taking that ‘massive’ first step is amazing and you will feel so proud of yourself…try it, you will see!

Once your mouth healthy, with the help of our dental team, you should need less treatment and there will be less for them to do in the future. It is important to keep up your regular visits to the dental team. The team will not just check for tooth decay, but will also help you prevent gum disease.

q. Should I tell the Dental Team That I am Nervous?

Absolutely! It is very important to let us know that you are nervous, so we can help you. Your treatment coordinator will go through your questionnaire and answer any questions you may have. Often after listening to a patients story it becomes apparent why they are nervous. If you do not say, we do not know. Help us help you…being nervous or having a fear is nothing to be ashamed of; there is nothing that we have not heard before or come across so please do not think you are different…we will be able to help you.

Q. What is the best time to go to the dentist?

Nervous and anxious patients often like booking early morning appointments so they do not spend the day worrying. Allow plenty of time so that you can get to the practice in a relaxed frame of mind - arriving in a rush will only make you feel more nervous. It is usually best to have something to eat before you arrive, so there is no chance of you feeling faint while you are in the chair. We aim to work with our patients and can offer appointments at a time that suits you. Speak to our treatment coordinator who will schedule a free consultation at a time that suits you.

Q. Can I go to sleep for treatment?

General anaesthetics (sedation) are now only rarely available for routine treatment. We can offer this service and indeed do for patients that suffer from an extreme high level of anxiety. Our objective is to get you to a place where this is not necessary which is possible. If after meeting us you still feel sedation is the way forward for you, we can arrange this.

What will happen at My first appointment?

Your first appointment will be for a free consultation. See it as an opportunity for you to 'interview' the dentist, treatment coordinator, receptionist and other members of the team, and have a chat about what to expect next. During your first consultation your treatment coordinator will go through your anxiety questionnaire. Together you will determine what triggers your fears and she will help you understand what we can do to address them. Our patients are never judged or rushed…we go at your pace.

Q. DO some practices specialise in treating nervous patients?

Yes. Here at Calm and Gentle Dental Care that is exactly what we do, we are used to dealing with nervous patients regularly. Our year of experience has helped us developed three programmes that help us understand your level of anxiety and fear. Once we have identified your level we can create a bespoke programme just for you. Its not just our dentist that have vast experience when treating nervous patients it is our entire team. Every member of staff has been trained to help patients manage their fear, from the first call to their last visit.

Q. I am afraid of injections, what can I do?

Having a fear of injections is very common, even patients that do not really experience high levels of fear will tell you they still get butterflies when it comes to the point where their tooth needs to be made numb. Our questionnaire helps us understand these fears before you sit in the dental chair, everything is out in the open. These days we have a special topical anaesthetic gels that can be applied to the area of the gum before the injection. This gel numbs the gum so that you cannot feel the needle.

Q. Can I ask the dental team to stop if i need to?

YES… Absolutely! It is very important to us that our patients feel in control at all times. Usually you can just raise your hand, and the treatment can be stopped for a few minutes until you are ready to start again. Once you know that you can control the situation you will feel more confident.

About Calm & Gentle Dental Care

Dr Pieter Claassen & Dr Kray are Now Offering

Calm & Gentle Dental Care For West Sussex

Calm & Gentle Dental Care is willing to provide if you say “OF COURSE I DO”. Using methods that have been tried and tested on thousands of patients, we take pride in treating nervous patients with our calm & gentle techniques.

Are you prepared to feel more confident “socialising, at work, with your family and friends, in public”, ready to discover how Calm & Gentle Dentistry can improve your dental health and well-being, and if you’re ready to experience what it feels like to feel good about yourself (AGAIN), your body, your mouth, your health – then Pieter and his team in Rustington are ready to help you.