‘Bad jokes’ soothe the dental chair nerves

A TRIP to the dentist can evoke feelings of nerves and apprehension, but a Hobart professional says a calm demeanour, a laugh or two and even some “bad jokes” is the secret to putting a patient’s mind at ease.

Dr Shannon Astill from City Dental in New Town said a good manner and explaining to people how dentistry helps them was key to a positive experience.

“If someone is really fearful, it’s good to have a chat to them about what happened last time to have made them become fearful,’’ she said.

“For a lot of people, they reminisce about trips to the school dentist as a child.”

The Mercury is today continuing its Best of Tasmania series by calling for public nominations to find the state’s best dentist.

Dr Astill, who is married with one child, said keeping people calm was crucial, and she admitted laughing a lot and telling the occasional joke to lighten the mood.

She said the best part of being a dentist was meeting people from all walks of life and having a hands-on job where she could solve problems for patients.

The 27-year-old, who hails from Cairns in far north Queensland, has lived in Hobart for more than three years and said she had always wanted to be a dentist.

Dr Astill said coronavirus restrictions had put a temporary halt on some dental work but with the state currently free of the virus, it was mostly back to normal.

She recommended people have a six-monthly dental check up and clean.

To place your dentist in the running for the best of Tasmania series, head to the Mercury Facebook page on Monday night to make a nomination. cameron.whiteley@news.com.au