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The success stories below have been written by real people who have been where you are now, but have managed to overcome their fear. Most are patients who have had treatment with Dr Mike Gow. Read what they have to say- and remember you too could be writing your very own success story soon! Email your story to whatfearcom@hotmail.com ********************************************************* Just before xmas I saw an article about Dr Mike Gow and hypnosis in the Sunday Mail , I took note of his name and left it at that . After xmas I was on the internet looking for work and decided to check Mike out and was led to his website . On reading it I saw there was this thing called oral sedation and that started the ball rolling for me. To put you in the picture dentists needles and pain for me went together and the coward that I am put me off any visit to the dentist . Add to the fact that when I was young a memory of been held down and been given gas at a dentists didn't help . So at the ripe old age of 46 and with what I thought were the worse teeth in the world and the biggest fear in the world I nervously phoned for a consultation with Mike . So there I was in the middle of January talking to a dentist...who was a nice bloke and he was listening and was not the type of person I had imagined ( him not sitting with a dentist uniform on also put me at ease ) He understood where I was coming from and he really put me at ease . I told him of my fear of needles and said oral sedation was the only way for me , he agreed and talked me through it. He had me at ease so much that before I knew it I was on the dentist chair and he was having a good look at my teeth , not only that but I got an x-ray as well. That was my first visit to Mike and it was totally PAINLESS . The second visit again PAINLESS was to get an impression of my mouth and to decide what was to be done. The third visit was on 23/01/09 thats when all the final decisions were made on what was to be done and my weight was took so as the amount of sedation needed could be calculated . Then a date was set for it all to happen ... this was Friday and it was to happen on Tuesday !!! I was a nervous wreck all weekend but that was to be expected . 27/01/09 ..D-DAY. I was alright at home and going there but when I got there I was petrified . It was nine in the morning and I thought I was in for a very long painful day . We went into the room and I sat on the chair and he showed me what I was to drink . There was less than a mouthful of this sedation mixed with orange to help the taste (and trust me you just taste the orange). Now this is the good bit...Mike started to chat to me and before I knew it it was 11.45 and he was finished .....new teeth and all . HONESTLY ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN OR MEMORY OF ANYTHING BEEN DONE ...if anyone had told me this I wouldn't have believed them (in fact I didn't cos mike had already said so). So now I'm thinking here we go with the after effects but suprisingly none. Mike even sent me a text that night to see how I was , a very nice gesture. The next day was also fine .Mike called me that evening to see how I was but I was out watching the football. All was suprisingly well . It will take a while to get used to the falsers ,but I can put up with that , they're far better than what I had . I can smile now without been embarressed . Maybe if you are reading this and thinking , like I was when I was reading other stories , this is just a made up story -you have my word its not ... contact Mike and ask to see my pics and hopefully then you will believe . And trust me oral sedation is a PAIN FREE way of getting your smile back *********************************************************** I had not been to the dentist in over eighteen years due to a bad experience when younger. Over the past two or three years I knew I should visit the dentist as I had suffered some tooth ache, but I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and just couldn’t face it and kept putting it off. I had watched a television program featuring Mike Gow and thought it was great that there was someone that understood and had the time and skills to work with people that have such a great fear and suffer these kind of reactions. After I lost part of a tooth while eating, I finally made an appointment. At my first visit I was in tears but Mike re-assured me that it was fine to cry, and that lots of people did. He had plenty of tissues at hand. It was my choice if I wanted to sit in the dentist chair, after a discussion on my fears and problems I had with my teeth I decided that I would. Mike made sure everything went at my pace and talked through everything he would do. It was decided I would probably need three cerec inlays in my back teeth and a new white filling at front to help improve the cosmetic look. After my visit I felt a lot more confident about going back although still slightly nervous about the injections. It was great how much time was spent with me, the fact I never felt rushed and that it was all about making sure I was comfortable with things. On my second visit I was much more confident. The plan was to do one cerec inlay and possibly the front filling. Once again everything was taken at my pace and well explained. When it came to the injection, I can honestly say that I didn’t feel it at all! It was un-believable! I had one tooth scanned and the cerec inlay fitted. It was then discussed that it was possible to do the opposite side at same time, which I happily went ahead with. In fact, I ended up getting all my work done in one visit! This included three cerec inlays, one filling, (four injections!) and scale and polish. I can say that proudly and with a smile on my face. If I had never heard about the work Mike Gow does, I would probably still have a painful mouth and chipped tooth. The work he does is so important and it's so great to have someone who understand and can work with and round your condition. My teeth are great now and I have had no problems with them since the treatment. I am looking forward to my six month check up which I feel proud to be able to go to now!
*********************************************************** Until recently I hadn’t received any proper dental care for over 23 years. The only exception to this was getting a filling ten years ago, however the experience I had on that visit was bad and only amplified my dental phobia. My dental phobia started when I was young and followed me into adult life. Some of the issues I had with the dentist were the feeling of being trapped in the dentist chair without having any control over what was happening to me. I hated having any sort of metal instrument in my mouth, hated the noise and smell of getting my teeth drilled but worse of all I found getting fillings to be very painful. When I was young I had a filling in put my front teeth, the filling discoloured two years after being done. For the last twenty- two years I have very rarely smiled through embarrassment. This affected my confidence as a teenager and adult. I went back to the dentist ten years ago as I was in need of urgent treatment. I only attended the one session as I found the treatment too painful. During the session I received inadequate anaesthesia and an unsympathetic dentist ignoring my plea for more pain relief. I came away from the session mentally scarred and vowed never to go back to a dentist. My perception of the dental industry was of a painful barbaric profession. As an adult I have always tried to ensure that my oral hygiene was as good as possible as I wanted to avoid a trip to the dentist at all cost. I didn’t have any major problems with my teeth until eight years ago when I had a tooth filling fall out. Because I didn’t get the tooth refilled it eventually got infected. For the last few years I was getting bouts of toothache every couple of months. I was treating the toothache with herbal remedies and Ibuprofen. Gradually the toothache got worse and was re-occurring every couple of weeks. Some of the toothache infections turned into abscesses that made my face swell up so bad that I was embarrassed to leave my house. For the last few years my teeth have been a constant worry and led to myself having bouts of depression. I knew that eventually I would have to get some treatment, however my phobia was so bad that even the thought of sitting in a dentist chair made me feel very anxious and nauseous. I couldn’t even look through lists of dentists in yellow pages without feeling unwell. I eventually came across Mike’s website “Whatfear.com”, whilst browsing through web pages on dental phobia. I read through a lot of the testimonials on the site and was glad to know that there were a lot of other people out there that had suffered from this phobia, who had then went on to successfully work through their phobias with Mike. All of the testimonials were saying the same thing. “Mike was patient, understanding, gentle at giving treatment but most importantly that the treatment was pain free”. I decided to take Mike’s number at the “Berkeley clinic” and after a few weeks managed to pluck up the courage to phone and arrange a consultation. The day of the consultation arrived and I was very nervous, in fact I had been a nervous wreck for a couple of days. When I turned up at the clinic Mike came out and met me and took me through into the consultation room. My first impression was it wasn’t as scary as I had imagined and what also made it easier was the fact that I didn’t even need to sit on the dreaded chair. Mike took time to listen to all of my issues before ensuring me that the profession had changed from how it was when I was younger. Mikes reassurances and patience made me feel so at ease that I felt able to sit in the chair, have him look around my mouth and even do an Xray all within the first visit. At the end of the session I was relieved that I didn’t need as much work done as I had imagined. My first treatment session was scheduled and Mike would treat me under sedation during a two-hour session. Mike planned to get through as much work as possible during this session. A week before the appointment I started getting very nervous and anxious. My mind was in overdrive visualising sitting in the dentist chair having treatment and this gave me heart palpitations. When the day eventually arrived I made my way into the surgery. On entering the treatment room Mike instantly made me feel relaxed and at ease and also explained again exactly what would be happening during the procedure. I was also made aware that I was in control of the treatment and could stop for a break at any time or to request more anaesthetic. This made me feel very empowered. The session went well even though there were complications taking my two teeth out, which led to the fillings having to get rescheduled for other sessions. When Mike said that Modern dentistry is pain free he wasn’t kidding. I never felt a thing; I didn’t even notice him putting in the Intravenous sedation. The injections in my mouth were also carried out very slowly and gently and were completely pain free. During the treatment the sedation worked very well, even though I was completely conscious, I was totally relaxed, at ease and happy for Mike to give me treatment. At the end of the first session I was a little disappointed that due to complication I hadn’t got through as much treatment as I planned, however I was amazed at how easy and pain free the treatment had been and I couldn’t believe that I had went through so many years of worry and depression over what turned out to be something so easy. The remainder of my treatment was for tooth fillings and some cosmetic work. Because I found the first treatment so easy I decided to do the rest of the treatment under local anaesthetic and without sedation. My treatment was broken down into manageable appointments and I’m now at the end of my treatment. Every single appointment has been a positive experience, I have never had any painful experiences, Before Mike carries out any procedure he will explain exactly what the procedure will entail. As a patient I have felt totally empowered whilst in the dentist chair. I do still get a little nervous before appointments, however the nerves and anxiety are nothing like as bad as what they were before treatment. Mike is amazed that I can now turn up and jump straight in the chair and I feel completely at ease.
The work that Mike does changes peoples lives in a very positive way. He has given me “a dental phobic for almost all of my life”, a new perception of the dental profession. Mike has successfully treated me and brought me back into using this profession. I think he could successfully treat any phobic. I can’t believe that with Mikes help and understanding and high quality of care that I have spent the last three months getting through dental treatment. It has taken me a long time to get here but thanks to Mike I have went through a life changing experience and now have the confidence to smile again. This has made a huge difference to my life. Thanks Very Much Mike.
*********************************************************** For many years, I had felt very embarrassed about the condition of my teeth and while I very much wanted to correct my problems, I found it a very hard issue to approach. Previous unpleasant dental treatment experiences had left me feeling very nervous about any treatment and I found it very difficult to talk about it without getting very upset and anxious. I struggled to find a local London dentist who was interested in taking the time to really listen to my concerns- every previous consultation left me feeling despondent, judged, and even more embarrassed than before. My confidence was lost and the condition of my teeth and how I felt about them affected every part of my working and personal life. Being put in touch with Dr Gow was a huge turning point. From initial email and telephone conversations, for the first time, I didn’t feel silly for being nervous and was able to be honest about my feelings as I felt that he really understood and cared about treating the whole patient. While I felt anxious about the actual treatment, I started to feel like things would improve. It was a huge relief to be able to just talk about my problems. At my first one hour consultation, Dr Gow instantly made me feel very welcome and relaxed. He took the time to talk through every area f my fears and concerns, was very reassuring, and made me feel comfortable and at ease. Having had a lot of dental work done as a teenager, I had become a very anxious patient and found myself surprised when I told him that I didn’t need sedation (something that had been essential in the past). This was totally due to how Dr Gow had made me feel- I didn’t feel out of control, and knew that he would be able to help me cope with it all. I left the clinic after our first meeting feeling like a huge eight had been lifted from my shoulders and that I had finally found the right dentist for me. I had no qualms about booking and starting my treatment as soon as possible. It amazed me that I found myself excited about the prospect of getting my teeth fixed and even more, finding myself looking forward to the visit- something I could never imagine myself saying. Dr Gow’s friendly, warm and understanding approach allowed me to have a large amount of treatment completed over a very short period of time- over a few consecutive days. Previously my anxieties would have caused me to book appointments weeks apart in order for me to pluck up the courage to attend! The actual treatment was remarkably pain free- I hardly noticed the injections and Dr Gow always checked how I was doing. I felt totally comfortable that I could ask him to stop at any time and that I wasn’t out of control. A large part of what made me feel nervous with previous dentists was feeling out of control and the feeling of only being treated as a patient, and not a person. Dr Gow changed all this for me too. Having completed the first stage of my treatment (2 crowns, 2 veneers, 1 inlay, a root treatment and a scaling), I couldn’t be happier. The experience has been amazing and in no way unpleasant. I have now a fantastic looking smile and the knowledge that I will have no problems with future treatments. Dr Gow told me that I had done really well and had been a great patient. I can honestly say this was down to him, and not me! I didn’t feel like I had to be ‘brave’. There was just nothing to be worried of and after 20 years of considering myself a nervous patient, as long as Dr Gow is my dentist, it will not be a phrase I ever use about myself! Dr Gow is a fantastic, caring and understanding dentist and would definitely be the first person I would recommend to friends and family. My only regret is not meeting him sooner! It has taken me at least 10 years to finally address the look and condition of my teeth and it is not an exaggeration to say that meeting and being treated by Dr Mike Gow has been a life changing experience for me. He has helped me feel more confident about myself and fully changed the way I feel about dental treatment forever.
*********************************************************** Ever since childhood I have had a severe gag reflex which has made dental treatment almost impossible so for many years I avoided going to the dentist at all. However earlier this year one of my teeth broke and I realised I needed to get treatment for it. I knew I had to find a dentist who would be happy treating someone with a gagging problem I looked on the internet for a suitable dentist in Glasgow and came across the Berkeley Clinic. The facilities and standard of the clinic were impressive. The clinic could provide several sedation techniques and one member of the team, Mike Gow, has a special interest in hypnosis and dental phobia. I went along, Mike gave me an examination and over several sessions the tooth was repaired. Mike used several techniques in combination, hypnosis, gas, acupuncture, which although didn’t eliminate the gagging altogether, kept it well under control. I never had the feeling that I was being given a standard procedure, I was given a treatment plan designed to deal with my specific problems. I also appreciated the way Mike made me feel less like a patient being told what to do and more like a partner in the process and I felt like I was in control of things at all times. Plenty of time was allocated for the treatment and there was never any sense of being rushed. All in all Mike and the team at the clinic gave me a very positive experience and although I was nervous at first I soon felt very comfortable about going along. The tooth has been repaired and I know that there are no other dental problems that need to be dealt with which has eased my anxiety considerably.
*********************************************************** I hadn’t been to the dentist for nearly 10 years and was in desperate need of treatment. It wasn’t really a problem for the first 4 or 5 years however, the last few years this fear had been really getting me down and it was starting to affect my life, especially over the past year. About 3 years ago one of my pre-molars had broken and I just assured myself that I would make an appointment to see the dentist ‘soon’ but at the same time knew I just couldn’t bring myself to do this. Looking back now it was like I was trapped in this fear and was embarrassed about my teeth and couldn’t possibly let a dentist look in my mouth but knew I needed treatment and it was inevitable that one day I would have to. However, taking that first step to even make an appointment just seemed impossible to me and there was no way I could do it without help. I began searching websites for information about dental phobias and found a wealth of information, however, a number of the websites just gave helpful tips on how to make an appointment and deal with any fear but I felt I really needed something more than this. I then came across a website called WhatFear.Com by Mike Gow, a Dentist who practices hypnotherapy for patients with dental phobias who had helped a number of people. I then decided that I had to contact Mike and that he would be able to help me overcome my fear. It took me a while to pluck up the courage to do this but eventually I did. I contacted Mike and just talking to him initially on the phone was so much easier than I had first anticipated. He arranged for me to meet him and just have a chat about my fears and what he could do to help. There was no pressure at all to look at my teeth and he made me feel at ease straightaway and I found him very approachable. I couldn’t believe I was so calm talking to a dentist! Before this even the mention of the word ‘dentist’ would send me into a panic. At my second visit I had hypnotherapy which was unbelievable and helped enormously. The session was recorded and I then listened to the CD the night before each appointment. I was also taught techniques which helped me to relax when I felt over-anxious. By the 3rd visit I felt ready to have treatment and throughout this Mike assured me that if at any time I felt uneasy or scared to let him know and he would stop immediately, but I’m glad to say this never happened and after this each time became easier. I still get anxious before an appointment but probably no more than the average person now. I have now had all the treatment in the original treatment plan and have even booked an appointment for my 6 months check-up! I still can’t believe I’ve done it and this time last year if I thought by now I’d have been to the dentist and had all the necessary treatment I just wouldn’t have believed it at all. I can honestly say it’s been so much easier than I thought it would be and it really is all down to Mike with his sympathetic, understanding and friendly approach. He has been more supportive than I could have ever imagined in helping me overcome this phobia. *********************************************************** Mike, please post on your website or forward to other people that are in the same position I was in. I just hope it helps others. This is my success story! I then emailed Dr Mike Gow who was back in touch the same day. I then decided it was now or never! I looked at his website and liked what I saw. He then phoned me and arranged for me to come and see him for a chat and, if i felt comfortable, to allow him to look at my teeth. I was nervous about going but went and am glad I did. He took me into the surgery where I sat in a normal chair (not the main chair that I was worried about!) He had me at ease straight away and made me feel comfortable answering all my questions. Then I got in the chair and he said ‘only a look at my teeth’ there was no pointy probe thing! He then said that I would need teeth out but would need an x-ray to confirm what I would need done, could I come back the next day for an x-ray and to arrange a treatment plan. I said ‘yes no problem’ and I went back the next day. The x-ray took 15 seconds and was on the computer straight away. He showed me the x-ray and said ‘nothing too difficult there’. We went into the surgery where he told me what I needed done- 17 teeth out and clean up the remaining five. I was not shocked because I was expecting to have them all out! I told him I liked the idea of sedation and he told me all about it. He said that the best thing was to get it all done at once which kind of scared me but had to be done. He I arrived and Mike came into the waiting room and explained that they were just setting up and reassured me that I would be fine when I got in the chair. I actually felt relaxed, all be it worried. He put the line in the back of my hand then explained what was going to happen. Then he said ‘shall we begin?’ He put the sedation into my hand and all I can say is ‘wow!’ It was an amazing feeling. I can remember almost everything and there was no pain at all. All 17 teeth were out and plates in. It felt like it took 5 minutes. I could not believe it was nearly 2 hours! I had a friend with me who actually sat in and watched and all he could say was ‘Mike was so gentle and all you did was lie there and giggle and you even fell asleep and were dreaming!’ If I had known it would have been this easy i would have done it sooner. I have had no pain at all. Yes, a little discomfort with the plates - but that’s all and it feels great to have a smile again. I can’t walk by a mirror without looking at my new teeth! My friend also told me the minute we got out the surgery I demanded he take me to McDonalds so I could have a milkshake. I cant remember that but he assures me that he paid for his own! It is now 2 days after it was done and I feel great! The whole experience was so easy and pain free. I really want to thank Mike and his assistants for all the help they have given me. Without them I would still be in pain and worrying myself sick. His approach attitude and ability to put people at ease is amazing and his work as a dentist is by far the best dental experience I have ever had. I will be recommending him to anyone who asks, in fact my friend is going next week after watching him work on my teeth and he can’t wait. It’s so good to think there are people in this world who have the time patience and ability to help others over come there fears. Thank you mike for giving me my smile back and proving that there is such a thing as pain free dentistry! *********************************************************** “Phobia - What Phobia?” Growing up in the sixties in the West of Scotland meant a bad diet for your teeth, lots of sweets, jeely pieces and sugary drinks (remember cremola foam). This of course led to fillings and regular check ups at the dentist. I didn’t want to go but I had no option, Mum would take me from school every few months and that was that. Then when I was old enough to choose, I stopped going. I left home, got married, and had a family, who all go regularly to the dentist leaving me the big coward. “I’ll go when I need to go,” I said and that’s just what I did. I looked after my teeth as best I could; I flossed, brushed and removed as much sugar from my diet as I could. And it worked for a while. Then about 12 years ago I started getting toothache on an incisor, not a front tooth but the one beside it. I put up with the pain which came and went over the next year or so, but during this time the tooth turned black and it also affected the front tooth and the canine either side of it. Then one day the bad tooth broke clean off at the gum line. I did not get time to worry too much about it as my wife made an emergency appointment at her dentist. I went along and he told me I needed 4 visits for RCT and some fillings and a crown. He would start that day on the RCT and a temporary crown. I told him I was scared of needles and asked if he could use the cream that numbs the gums, but I was told that he only used that with babies. That was the start of the problems. My anxiety seemed to make him angry, he told me he did not have time for all this nonsense, he was brutal with the needle, and did things like freeze you up then sit you in the waiting room until you were called, then he had to jag you again because of the time lapse. There was always a big queue and long waits and regular problems with unhappy patients to witness, which all added to the anxiety. Anyway if the temporary crown had stayed in I might never have gone back, but I finished the treatment with each visit being more frightening than the last. Then I went back to avoiding the dentist until about 2 years ago. The small back of the tooth filling he had done on the canine fell out. It would have meant 5 minutes in the chair but I was so terrified of the dentist by now that I ignored it even though I knew it could lead to hours of RCT and false teeth etc, the phobia was now in control and all rational thinking was gone. Then about 6 months later a filling on my front tooth broke, I ignored it, I hid it, I stopped smiling. Over a few months the tooth slowly crumbled until there was little left. I developed a lisp I avoided socialising and I had sleepless night knowing what I had to do. I had to find the right dentist, decision made but still I delayed, I’ll do it after the holidays, I’ll do it after Christmas etc. People had noticed the missing tooth but few commented, so I owned up “look what’s happed to my front tooth, I’ve got an appointment next month" I would announce but I was pushing myself into a corner I needed no options where was my mum when I needed her. Actually she came to the rescue “have you lost a front tooth” yes “well you better get it fixed quickly or you’ll lose all you’re teeth and you wont like that”, that night I found Dr Mike Gows website - www.WhatFear.Com. It still took me a few weeks to call the number, by this time I was worrying that he would be fully booked and I had convinced myself after reading his website that he was the man, in a panic I made the call. Stage 1, the hardest stage over. The girl who answered was very nice and understood my phobic problems and a wee while later Mike phoned me and within seconds had me relaxed about the initial visit. Visit one. This was nothing like my previous dentist it was quiet and relaxed, the smells and the chair where there but somehow they did not phase me, Mike was everything I hoped for, he listened to my fears, the main one being the needles, he told me about the options and he described how he can do pain free injections. “Aye right so you can” I thought, but he was right. There is no reason why my previous dentist could not use gum freezing gel, or explain that the needle is very small and extremely thin and flexible like a hair, or that it cant break off in your gum and if he goes very slow freezing as he goes that you wont feel a thing. Mike even phoned me later that day when I got home to discus my first visit to a dentists for 10 years, I thought that was above and beyond but just typical of the man and very useful from my point of view. Mike has a laptop on his desk and I noticed on my first 2 visits it said on my notes PHOBIC in big letters and on my 3rd visit it was changed to anxious and that was right, maybe it now reads slightly anxious in small letters and lets face it going to the dentist isn’t anyone’s favourite pastime but it has to be done. My teeth are all fixed now I’ve got my smile back and I’m fair chuffed with myself, and I had my six month check up today, no sleepless night, no lack of concentration at work didn’t even get the sweaty palms in the waiting room even though there was a chance that I’d be told that it was time for some of my wisdom teeth to come out. But I was in luck he’ll look again in 6 months, a quick scale and polish and I was away I have to thank everyone at Faqir and Friel but most of all Mike and if anyone reading this has had similar problems then what you need is your own Dr Mike Gow the pain free dentist.
***********************************************************D ear Mike Thank you for helping me learn to deal with my fear of dentists. A couple of bad experiences with my dentist when I was younger made me completely terrified even at the thought of visiting a dentist. Giving birth to my first son gave me the motivation to do something about my fear because I didn’t want to pass it onto him. I searched online about dental phobias and found your website and I was delighted to discover that your practice was local. My husband drove me down there and then to make an appointment before I could change my mind. Even walking into reception to make an appointment brought on a panic attack!!! When I came in for my first check up with you I tried to tell you through the tears and hyperventilation that I was terrified at just being there. You didn’t treat me like I was silly but accepted that I had a problem and you would do your best to help me. You calmed me down, explained everything you were going to do and let me see and hold the instruments. When I left I felt a bit better and was at least happy I’d taken that first step. Since that first visit, my confidence in coming to you has improved massively. Just knowing that you are understanding and experienced in coping with people like me is a help, and knowing that I have the option of using gas to keep me calm also helps. You, personally, are a big help too. If I do start to panic you are able to talk me through it and by explaining everything to me you take away the fear of the unknown. Every visit gets a little bit easier.
I think it will probably be a while before I am calm enough to have treatment done without sedation but I have come a long way in the last couple of years. Thanks to you I have reached my main goal to get over my fear enough not to pass it on to my children. I am now calm when I come in for a visit, even when I’m coming in for treatment. Not bad for someone that couldn’t even make an appointment for a check up without hysterics two years ago. Thank you for your continuing help and encouragement, not to mention the mouthful of lovely teeth that I plan to keep for the rest of my life.
*********************************************************** This was from a teenager needing teeth extracted prior to having braces I was recently in for the 4 teeth extractions which I had done on Thursday. I just wanted to thank you for your wonderful help throughout the procedure. Although I wouldn't classify myself as a dental phobic, I definitely had worries about those extractions and was at the point of denying any treatment to my teeth because of those worries. This would have obviously had adverse effects on my dental health. So it was with a bit of apprehension I found myself having agreed to an appointment for the extractions. However I found that your friendly, helpful and casual manner really helped me relax, and it wasn't just the laughing gas that made me feel at ease! I was a bit embarrassed at trying to talk afterwards, but you probably are used to hearing patients trying to speak with numbed mouths, plus you did seem to understand and were still really friendly despite my unintelligible mumbling :) So thank you again, and I'll definitely recommend you to anyone else I know that might feel like I did. Cheers for the best dental visit I've had *********************************************************** This was from a patient after her first consultation (chat) appointment; Thank you for your time today I also had a look at your web page, very impressive. There is a lot of good useful information which I’m sure those who have fears or anxieties about visiting the dentist will find comforting. I feel more comfortable about going to the dentist already, because you take the time to explain what the procedure will entail, and reassure the patient. I think some Dentists become desensitised to the inherent fears that patients experience. Thanks again
*********************************************************** Dear Mike, I greatly appreciate the time and effort you took to ensure my comfort and safety during my hypnosis session. Since the session, I have felt more confidence, and less anxiety, about my dentures. I also think your hypnosis has helped me to be calmer about certain work and driving related situations.
*********************************************************** Mike, *********************************************************** Background: I last visited a dentist when I was 18, some 27 years ago. The experience was horrendous. The Dentist scared the living daylights out of me and I fainted at the reception desk on my way out – it was that bad. Needless to say that’s how my phobia probably started. Over the intervening years my top teeth gradually got worse and worse. 14th August 2007: I woke up in the early hours of the 14th August with an abscess – luckily not in any pain but my face was badly swollen. Unable to go to work and not being registered with any dentist it left me with no option but to seek help. Luckily my wife new this situation would probably arise at some point and had already trawled the Internet looking for a dentist who might be able to help. She already had Dr Mike Gow’s site hidden away on the laptop. After reading an account of someone else’s experience, which seemed similar to my own situation, I plucked up the courage to phone. A pleasant sounding girl answered the phone and after I explained my problem she said she would get Dr Gow to call me back – this was at 9 O’clock. Mike phoned me back at 10.30am after what seemed an eternity but even over the phone he seemed to have some sort of calming influence. By lunchtime I was sitting in his surgery calmly talking to him. He really put me at ease – no lectures, no poking or prodding. He suggested that sedation would be my best option and he explained how this would work. After an hour I left, antibiotics in hand, and really pleased with myself that I had taken the first step to getting my smile back. 22nd August: Second visit to see Mike. An x-ray was taken – took just 14 seconds!! - Then it was time for Mike to have a really good look around my mouth. Again he was very reassuring and gentle – no rough treatment here. I was already resigned to losing all my top teeth but to my surprise Mike said that some of them could possibly be kept. 29th August:Third visit and this time impressions are taken of both top and bottom teeth and a detailed treatment plan is drawn up. After some deliberation it was decided that the plate would fit better if all the top teeth were extracted. 6th September: D Day – the previous eight days were bit of a rollercoaster – fine so long as I didn’t think about what was about to happen to me!! As I lay in the chair, brow perspiring, stomach churning and feeling as though I’m about to breathe my last, Mike administered the Sedation cocktail – within seconds I felt totally calm. I could not feel a thing although I knew Mike was putting local anaesthetic all round my top gums. The whole procedure, 14 extractions, was over in what seemed to be about half an hour, the reality was that it took 1hour 40 mins. At 12.30 I left with a brand new smile – amazing!! The aftermath I look totally different – I’ve got top teeth and a smile again. After the anaesthetic wore off I thought maybe this is when the pain will kick in – it didn’t. By the following day bleeding had all but stopped and within a few days I could chew on soft food – albeit rather gingerly. I will post an update here after my next visit in October when I have to have one final sedation visit to complete my treatment. Two fillings and four extractions- this time on the lower jaw! ***********************************************************
Never thought I’d get this far but yesterday I had 3 Cerec restorations and 2 amalgam fillings replaced with white in one sitting.
******************************************************************* Mike, I just wanted to thank you so much for all you have done for me. My confidence has increased and I feel great. Thank you also to Ashley and Jamie and everyone involved in getting me this far! You are all so kind and non-judgemental which means a lot to me!
******************************************************************* Dear Dr Gow, Just wanted to say thanks for helping me get over my fear- and in such a short space of time too! I never realised how much time I spent worrying about the dentist until now that the worry is not there anymore. My anxiety levels have dropped below what I could ever imagine before and during the visit. I hardly feel nervous at all now - I never thought that would be possible! I don’t feel trapped in the chair anymore- knowing what is happening at each step really helps.The gas also has helped me break the cycle of worry. I go out having fely ‘happy’ throughout the procedure and so I return next time with that same positive memory. You’ve taken such a weight off my shoulders! Scotland needs more of you!
******************************************************************* To Mike I would like to thank you and your staff for the patience and ease you put me to by explaining everything you were going to do at the consultation. As I told you - I was petrified of all dentists since childhood and had not been for a number of years. Because of your professionalism and the dental work carried out by you (which was first class) I will be happy to return to future appointments and any more treatments I may need. Thank you all once again for being so understanding.This was from someone who I never even met in the flesh. He lives in Germany and I gave advice and helped him through his appointments for his treatment: Hi there Mike! Yes, I am back. My first surgery appointment had to be cancelled, because they didn't perform a complete physical. But I went to hospital 3 weeks later (end of July), stayed 2 nights/3 days, had a 6 hour surgery, and woke up in the evening with temporary teeth in my mouth! Tell you, did I feel GREAT! Now I have to go there once a week, still getting lots of things done - root treatment and so on, some cavities still have to be fixed, but I got rid of my phobia - just a normal dental fear - and actually, I am always looking forward to the next appointment - isn't it fun to speak, eat, laugh without being embarrassed!?! I want to thank you again for your support and advice. If there is anything I can help you or others with, please let me know. I will always be ready and available! Thanks again and I hope we stay in touch,
*********************************************************** I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Mike Gow. He has provided me with support and guidance throughout my dental treatment. My first contact with him helped me to gather up the strength I needed to get this done. Thank you for taking the time to help me Dr. Mike. This is my success story....... My dental problems began many years ago as a child. My parents struggled with money and didn’t have any medical insurance for us. Neither one of my parents ever took care of their teeth, and my mom had most of hers extracted in her early thirties. My father to this day has never seen a dentist and I don’t believe he ever will. Most of his teeth have fallen out but he manages. When I was twelve, my mom decided that she wanted to get my teeth taken care of. I had a lot of cavities that needed to be filled. All of the treatment went pretty well except for one in particular. I was sitting in the chair, the dentist had numbed me up to fill a front tooth and I guess it wasn’t numb all of the way. I didn’t know of any way to stop him and let him know that I was hurting so I had to sit there helpless with tears in my eyes. Ask questions. I always asked questions, that way there were no surprises. Knowing what was going on allowed me to feel in control.
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