Notes for first-time patients
Are you also worried about whether it will hurt, or what kind of treatment you’ll receive?
Treatment you can’t see happening inside your mouth makes anyone feel nervous. So that you can visit us with confidence, we’d like to share the approach we take to treatment here.
Why patients feel “pain” and “fear” about the dentist
Many people have a negative image of “the dentist = a painful, scary place.” Why is it that this fear is so hard to shake even as an adult?
Why does treatment hurt?
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Because the nerve becomes inflamed and sensitive.
By the time you feel a sharp, throbbing pain, bacteria have usually already spread close to the nerve.
With inflammation this advanced, anesthetic tends to be harder to take effect, which makes it easier to feel pain during treatment. -
Because the pain that lingers once the anesthetic wears off leaves a strong memory.
As long as the anesthetic is working properly, the pain of the treatment itself can almost always be kept under control.
But once the procedure is over and the anesthetic wears off, the underlying inflammation at the site can sometimes cause pain. This is one reason the memory of “going to the dentist hurts” never quite goes away. -
Because the dentist is seen as “somewhere you go once you can’t stand it anymore.”
Many people tend to think “the dentist is somewhere you go once the pain has become unbearable.”
Tooth decay that has already progressed needs to be drilled away over a wide area, which naturally makes pain more likely. On top of that, the anesthetic injection given to control that pain is itself something many people resist, which only deepens the impression that “the dentist hurts.”
Why does seeing the dentist feel “scary”?
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Because of the worry that “painful treatment might be coming.”
A toothache itself is hard enough to bear, so it’s only natural not to want to go somewhere that might cause even more pain.
But if you keep putting it off because “I’m scared, so I won’t go,” the problem only gets worse, and you eventually end up needing even more painful treatment — a vicious cycle. -
Because the needle, and the distinctive sound of the equipment, create a sense of pressure.
The feeling of a needle entering your mouth, and the sharp, whirring sound of the equipment, can’t help but make your whole body tense up. Having regular checkups and taking care of prevention, so that you need these frightening instruments as little as possible, is the best solution.
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Because of past experiences of being given too little explanation, or being treated coldly.
Have you ever had an experience at another clinic where your teeth were drilled before you’d been given a proper explanation, or where you were treated coldly?
Not knowing what is about to be done to you, and the mistrust that comes from a lack of communication, can turn directly into overwhelming fear for a patient.
How 歯科ハミール looks after patients and what we do about it
So that we can provide treatment that “takes your pain into account” as much as possible.
Hearing “I think I can keep coming here” is our greatest encouragement.
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We watch closely for the smallest change in your expression, and check in with you often.
We never want you to feel like you’re silently enduring pain you can’t bring yourself to mention. We stay alert to your expressions and movements at all times, and move treatment forward with care, at your own pace.
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We keep studying and refining our technique for keeping pain under control.
We apply topical anesthetic to ease the sting of the injection, use ultra-fine needles, and put real effort into our equipment. We work every day to improve our technique, so that even a child who is afraid of injections can come away saying “that didn’t hurt at all.”
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Keeping as much of your natural teeth as possible.
We don’t carry out overtreatment such as forcibly drilling away large areas or extracting teeth too readily. We put prevention first, and do what we can to propose the best option for keeping your precious natural teeth.
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Focusing on preventive dentistry, to help keep your teeth for as long as possible.
Treating tooth decay is of course an important part of what we do, but our goal is to become “a place of care where your mouth doesn’t get cavities.” Once regular maintenance becomes a habit, drilling and anesthetic are no longer needed. We believe that through prevention, we can do as much as possible to change the impression that “the dentist hurts.”
Creating a space that isn’t “scary” so you can visit with confidence.
We hope you’ll smile and say, “if it’s like this, I can keep coming.”
We want to support patients in living healthy, fulfilling everyday lives by helping them maintain good oral health.
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Reducing the burden on your body, with treatment that feels relaxing.
As long as there’s no pain, fear eases a great deal. We take special care starting from how we give the anesthetic injection itself, aiming for treatment with such a light touch that you might say “I didn’t even notice when the anesthetic was given,” gradually clearing away the frightening image of the dentist.
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Understanding the cause together, and aiming for zero cavities together.
The best way to deal with fear is to create an environment where treatment isn’t needed in the first place. We use photos of your mouth to explain, in plain and simple terms, what causes tooth decay and how to prevent it, doing everything we can to support you in protecting your own teeth.
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Welcoming you with a genuine smile, and building a warm relationship.
Precisely because you come to us feeling nervous, we make a point of welcoming you with a warm smile. We hold regular training for how we receive patients and in-house study sessions, working hard to create an atmosphere where you can always feel comfortable asking us anything. Through thorough explanation and open conversation, we provide treatment that patients can accept and feel at ease with.
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Clearing away the anxiety of “not being able to see or understand.”
Not knowing what is being done to you brings great fear. We believe that taking the time to explain the current state of your mouth and what we’ll be doing today, and keeping up sincere communication throughout, is the first step in caring for a patient’s anxiety. We treat every patient wholeheartedly, hoping that with each visit, your impression of the dental clinic will gradually change.
A few things to know before your first visit
- 1 Please book an appointment in advance.
- To make sure we can set aside enough time for every patient’s treatment, our clinic operates on an appointment basis. If you come in without booking, we may not always be able to see you right away, so please book in advance by phone, or online / via LINE.
- 2 Please bring your insurance card to your first visit.
- Please show your health insurance card or medical certificate at your first visit and at your first visit each month wherever possible. If you forget to bring it, you will need to pay the full cost yourself for the time being (100% of the cost), so please keep this in mind. Our clinic also supports using a My Number Card as your health insurance card.
- 3 The first-visit treatment fee is around 4,000 yen.
- This is the approximate cost of the first-visit fee, X-ray and examination fee when your insurance co-payment is 30%. The actual cost will vary depending on the examination and treatment given on the day. If you also have a cleaning or cavity treatment, there will be an additional charge.
- 4 We support a range of cashless payment methods.
- Besides cash, you can also pay by credit card, transit IC card, PayPay and more. If you’re considering privately funded treatment, we can also introduce a dental installment loan plan to ease the burden of monthly payments.
- 5 If you’re in severe pain you can’t bear.
- We give priority to patients with an appointment, but if you’re in pain so severe you can’t sleep, please don’t hesitate to contact us as soon as possible. You may need to wait a little, but we will do everything we can to arrange emergency treatment the same day. Please call us first to discuss it.
- 6 There is a limit to how much treatment can be done in a single visit.
- We understand very well the feeling of “I’m busy with work, so I’d like to get it all done today,” but health insurance rules strictly regulate the order of examinations and treatments that can be carried out in a single day. We ask for your understanding and cooperation so that we can balance safety with moving your treatment forward accurately.
- 7 Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time.
- On your first visit, you’ll need to complete some preliminary steps such as filling in a medical questionnaire and setting up your patient record. Please allow enough time and arrive with plenty to spare.
- 8 You can also request or change your treating dentist.
- Our clinic has several dentists on staff, so if you have a preference such as “I’d like a female dentist” or “I’d like a second opinion from another dentist,” please feel free to let the front desk know at any time. *Depending on the dentist’s schedule, your appointment time may be slightly later.
- 9 For patients who would like to use our free childcare room.
- Since arranging childcare staff and other preparations takes time, if you would like to use our childcare service, please let us know that you’d like to use the childcare room as early as possible when booking.
- 10 Any other questions or concerns.
- If you have any worries or questions, no matter how small, please feel free to contact us at any time. If you’re busy, you can also submit a written inquiry through our contact form, and a member of staff will get back to you with a detailed answer afterward.