How Do We Combat Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety is real, and it’s more common than most people admit. If you’ve been putting off making an appointment because the idea of sitting in a dental chair makes you tense, you’re not alone, and you’re not without options. Dr. Brandon Keyser, who has been practicing at Comfort Dental Santa Fe for more than a decade, has a clear and practical philosophy when it comes to anxious patients. And it works.
What Does Dr. Keyser Do Differently for Nervous Patients?
His approach might surprise you, because it’s not about elaborate calming techniques or scripted reassurances. It’s about reading the room and not making things bigger than they need to be.
“A lot of times I just try to be really calm and confident and just get things done,” Dr. Keyser explains. “When they see that this isn’t that big of a deal, it helps them feel a little bit calmer.”
He’s observed that overthinking the anxiety, drawing too much attention to it, can actually make it worse. Patients who come in already wound up don’t need a production. They need someone steady, someone who projects competence and ease, someone who can quietly communicate: we do this every day, and you’re going to be fine.
Does the Anxiety Actually Get Better Over Time?
Yes, and that’s one of the things Dr. Keyser is most direct about. The key is getting patients through that first experience in a way that doesn’t traumatize them further.
“If we can treat them quickly, get them taken care of, then their anxiety decreases the next time they come in,” he says. “If it ends up being a whole big theatrical deal, then the next time they come in, it’s another theatrical deal. As we treat the patient, their anxiety and their behavior level improves dramatically.”
This is important for people who have avoided the dentist for years precisely because of a bad experience somewhere along the way. A calm, efficient appointment resets the story. It gives patients evidence that dental care doesn’t have to be something to dread, and each subsequent visit becomes a little easier.
What If My Dental Problems Have Gotten Serious Because I’ve Been Avoiding Care?
Comfort Dental Santa Fe is well-suited for patients in exactly this situation. The practice is equipped to handle comprehensive cases, including significant decay, extractions, implants, and full dentures. Dr. Keyser and his partners have built an office that can meet patients where they are, no matter how long it’s been since their last appointment.
The team also follows up with patients after procedures, with Dr. Keyser personally making care calls within 24 hours to check in. If something doesn’t feel right, they want to know. If you’re recovering well, they want to hear that too. It’s a level of attentiveness that helps anxious patients feel less alone in the process.
Is Comfort Dental Santa Fe the Right Place for Me?
If you’ve been avoiding dental care because you’re nervous or because a past experience left you with a bad impression of dental offices in general, Comfort Dental Santa Fe is worth a call. The office is open from 7:30 in the morning to 7:30 at night and sees patients on Saturdays as well, so scheduling around a busy life is manageable. They accept most insurance plans, including Medicaid.
Dr. Keyser has spent his career treating the whole community of Northern New Mexico, including many patients who came in with significant anxiety and left feeling relieved. His approach is grounded and unpretentious: be calm, be competent, do the work, and let the results speak for themselves. For a lot of patients, that’s exactly what they needed to finally get the care they’d been putting off.