My current dentist at the practice, Dr Marijus Ambraziunas, was recommend to me as gentle caring and very, very good. Having had bad encounters with many dentists in the past I was somewhat dubious, but I can now say that he is, in my experience, extraordinary. I have now been to see him about 5 times - he has root-filled and capped one (extremely painful) tooth and filled an adjoining one. During the time I have been in the chair he has not caused more than 'some slight discomfort' and that only about once. He takes time to give injections so that they do not hurt when they are being given and then they are very effective. I do not know whether his injections are particularly well aimed or whether there is an alternative explanation - but the subsequent drilling has not been painful or even uncomfortable.
He takes his time, is very patient and involves me enough in the explanation and discussion about my treatment and my choices.
Starting this course of treatment with a very painful 9 days and nights of toothache - needing antibiotics and a numerous, if not overly effective, array of painkillers, - I was treated in several long sessions. As a result of the treatment I feel, if not like skipping to the dentist, at least without long periods of dread before an awful day. Sadly, I do not feel that I have grown up - I simply think he is a very good and patient dentist who gives great injections, takes his time and delivers painless dentistry without the risks and expenses of stronger anaesthetics.
I inherited a terror of dentistry from my mother, who was petrified by it - unfortunately I didn't take after my father who thought anaesthetics were a waste of time! Therefore when young I neglected my teeth and they are in much worse condition than they should be. When I was about 25 I found a genuinely painless dentist and he saw me through many years - eventually spending many happy hours fitting a 6 tooth bridge when my front teeth were kicked in by an assailant. The dentist did this by using gas and air (which acts very well as an anaesthetic and which therefore enabled him to give excellent targeted injections - sadly, when not gassed I am very sensitive to injections also!!). Eventually he retired, and I set out to find a dentist who would give gas and air - to cut an endless story short they have stopped doing this! I was offered Valium injections but reluctantly and very expensively. During the past few years a number of dentists have offered to give me dentistry which they promised would be painless. They have always eventually failed - sometimes at the investigation stage, nearly always by the end of the treatment.
I can actually recommend my current dentist completely - though to be fair, I do still need a valium or two to help me get there! read more