Approximately one in five people in Switzerland experiences fear of visiting the dentist. For many, this anxiety goes so far that they avoid dental visits for years — even when in significant pain. The result is a vicious cycle: the longer since the last visit, the greater the dental problems become, and the greater the fear of what the dentist might find.
At our dental practice in Freienstein, we take dental anxiety seriously. We do not judge anyone for fear, embarrassment, or postponed treatments. Instead, we create an environment where you feel safe and in control — no matter how long since your last dental visit.
Dental anxiety can have many causes. Often, a traumatic childhood experience is at the root — a painful procedure, an insensitive dentist, or the feeling of being powerless. Sometimes the anxiety develops without a specific trigger, through stories from others, negative media portrayals, or a general fear of medical procedures.
Regardless of the cause, dental anxiety almost always leads to the same pattern: avoidance of dental visits, deterioration of oral health, growing shame, and increasing fear. Breaking this cycle does not require heroism — it requires a practice that works with patience and understanding. That is exactly what we offer in Freienstein.
Our approach to dental anxiety is built on three pillars: trust, transparency, and pace. Trust begins with the first contact. During a no-obligation initial consultation, you get to know our practice and Dr. Siouri — without any immediate treatment. We listen to you, take your concerns seriously, and explain every step before it happens.
Transparency means you always know what is happening and why. We show you on screen what we see, explain treatment options in understandable terms, and make decisions together with you. And pace means: we work at your rhythm. If you need a break, simply raise your hand — we stop immediately.
For patients with severe dental phobia or extensive treatment needs, we offer treatment under general anaesthesia. This means you sleep through the entire procedure and are completely unaware. Multiple treatment steps can be combined into a single session, reducing the number of dental visits to a minimum.
General anaesthesia is administered by an experienced anaesthetist who is present throughout the treatment and monitors your vital signs. Before the anaesthesia, a thorough consultation takes place where your health status is assessed and all questions are answered.
In addition to general anaesthesia, we offer various levels of anxiety management. Nitrous oxide sedation (inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide) is a mild form of relaxation where you feel calm and slightly light-headed but remain conscious. The nitrous oxide takes effect within minutes and wears off equally quickly after treatment — you can leave the practice independently.
For deeper relaxation, oral or intravenous sedation is available, placing you in a twilight state. You remain responsive but barely perceive the treatment and usually remember very little afterwards. Combined with our compassionate care, we find the right solution for every patient.
We know that even the thought of calling a dentist can cause enormous stress for people with dental phobia. That is why we make getting started as easy as possible: you can reach us by phone, email, or through our online contact form. At your first appointment, we look at your situation together — without time pressure, without judgement, without immediate treatment. Only when you feel ready and we have a plan together do we begin.
Many of our anxious patients report that they felt relieved after their first visit and wondered why they had waited so long. We want to make that moment possible for you too.
Absolutely not. Dental anxiety is one of the most common phobias and affects people of all ages and backgrounds. At our practice, we meet you with understanding and respect — our entire team is trained in working with anxious patients.
In many cases, yes. One of the greatest advantages of general anaesthesia is that multiple treatments — such as fillings, extractions, and professional cleaning — can be performed in a single session. This significantly reduces the number of visits.
General anaesthesia is administered by an experienced anaesthetist using state-of-the-art monitoring technology. The risk is extremely low for healthy patients. In the preliminary consultation, we carefully assess your health status and any potential risks.