Keeping You Comfortable

Keeping you comfortable at the dentist means caring for your peace of mind just as much as your teeth, your gums and your time. At Southern York Smile Care in Shrewsbury, PA, Dr. Steven Haywood and the team make a real effort to help every patient feel at ease. The chairs are cushy, but comfort goes much deeper than that.

For many people, the hardest part of a dental visit is not the treatment. It is the worry beforehand: fear of pain, fear of being judged, fear of not knowing what is happening. This article explains four ways the team protects your peace of mind, the tools that make visits gentler, and what you can do to feel more relaxed in the chair.

1. You will not be judged

The team at Southern York Smile Care is here to help you, whatever the state of your teeth. Over many years, they have cared for patients with every kind of dental trouble: years of skipped visits, advanced gum disease, enamel worn away by acid or illness, damage from drug use, tobacco stains and more. They understand that life happens, and they treat every patient with respect.

If you have been putting off care because you feel embarrassed, please know that you will be met with kindness, not a lecture. The focus is always on where you go from here. For more, read Been a While Since You've Visited a Dentist?

2. Your comfort during treatment comes first

The team works to eliminate or keep pain to a minimum at every step. Dr. Haywood takes great care to make numbing as gentle as possible. Numbing gel on the gum before an injection, and an injection given slowly, are simple steps that make a real difference in how it feels. If injections worry you, say so before you start.

Gentler tools

Modern technology makes many treatments easier on you:

• Air abrasion can remove small areas of decay with little or no drilling, so some fillings may not need numbing at all.
• The Picasso laser offers a gentle way to treat gum tissue.
• The iTero Element 3D scanner takes a digital model of your teeth, so there is no gagging on messy impression putty.
• Digital X-rays use up to 90% less radiation than older film X-rays and are quick and easy.
• DIAGNOdent, a laser pen, helps find decay early, when treatment is smallest and simplest.

You can learn more on the dental technology page.

Time to do things right

Being rushed can make anyone tense. Every dental cleaning at Southern York Smile Care is a full 60 minutes, so there is time to work gently and take breaks when you need them.

3. Help for dental anxiety

Fear of the dentist is far more common than most people realize. Feeling a loss of control, having instruments in your mouth and hearing sounds you cannot see are not pleasant for anyone. For some people, the fear is strong enough to keep them away for years.

Sedation dentistry can help you get through your appointment with much less stress. Southern York Smile Care offers oral sedation:

• Oral sedation. A pill taken before your visit helps you feel deeply relaxed. You will need someone to drive you to and from the office.

Sedation is a good fit for longer treatments, for people with strong anxiety and for people with a sensitive gag reflex. Ask whether it suits you. If fear is a big issue, you may also find it helpful to read Help! I'm Afraid of the Dentist.

4. Clear, honest communication

Not knowing what is going on is a big source of worry. At Southern York Smile Care, procedures are explained clearly, and all of your questions are answered before treatment starts.

An intraoral camera lets you see pictures of your own teeth on a screen, so you understand exactly what needs care and why. If you are not sure you want to go ahead, you are welcome to take time to think about it. There is no rush and no pressure.

During treatment, the team checks in with you often. Many patients find it helps to agree on a simple signal, like raising a hand, that means "please pause." Knowing you can stop at any time makes it much easier to relax.

After treatment, you will also get simple, clear instructions for home care: what to eat, what to expect as numbness wears off and when to call. If anything feels wrong once you are home, the team is a phone call away.

Tips to feel more relaxed at your visit

A few small steps on your end can make a big difference:

1. Tell the team you feel nervous. They cannot help with what they do not know about.
2. Pick a time that suits you. Many anxious patients prefer a morning visit, before worry has time to build.
3. Skip the extra coffee. Caffeine can make you feel jittery.
4. Bring headphones. Music or a podcast can block out sounds and help time pass.
5. Breathe slowly. Slow breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth calm your body.
6. Ask questions. Knowing what comes next takes away much of the fear.
7. Start small. A first visit can be just a conversation and an exam, so you can get to know the team.

Comfort includes your budget, too

Worry about cost can be as stressful as worry about treatment. The office is out of network with every insurer: you pay at the visit, and the office files the claim so your insurance company can reimburse you. CareCredit and Cherry payment plans are available. Kelley Fisher, the Patient Care and Treatment Coordinator, can go over your plan, your insurance questions and your financing options before treatment begins, so there are no surprises. See the financing page.

Dr. Haywood has more than 35 years in practice, a DDS earned cum laude in 1987 and advanced training with the US Air Force. That experience shows up as calm, steady care.

Give Southern York Smile Care a try

If you have put off dental treatment for any reason, you are warmly encouraged to give Southern York Smile Care a try. Your dental health and your comfort are the top priorities. Services include restorative dentistry to repair damaged teeth, along with cleanings, cosmetic care and more.

Call (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment at 4 S. Main St in Shrewsbury, PA. The office welcomes patients from Shrewsbury, York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County.

About the authorDr. Steven Haywood, DDS

DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.

Meet Dr. Haywood →