From Procrastination to Prevention: Breaking the Cycle of Dental Care Avoidance

How do we end the damaging cycle of dental care avoidance?

How are your school holidays going? A big wave to sterling parents (and grandparents!);

I hope you have been enjoying the unusually benevolent summer weather and avoiding the gathering rainclouds of "back to school" posters.

School's out… but I've got homework!

While the children are enjoying the summer holidays, I'm already thinking ahead to autumn. Alongside work at Crossbank Dental Care, I'm studying for my CMI Level 7 Strategic Management & Leadership Practice qualification, which means a 4,000-word assignment is waiting for me at the end of October. It seemed an age away when I first started, but suddenly it's galloping towards me! My poolside family holiday reading, as we celebrate my Mum's 80th birthday, may be rather heavier than the usual chick-lit.

If I am honest… I have already caught myself putting it off.

It made me realise just how easy it is to avoid something that feels difficult or uncomfortable. We all do it. Unfortunately, one place this happens far too often is with our dental health.

The temptation of procrastination

Maybe you have been meaning to book an appointment for months. Perhaps a tooth has been bothering you, but not enough to make it feel urgent. Or maybe you are worried about what we might find, or even a little embarrassed that it's been a while since your last visit.

You are certainly not alone. Research suggests that between 35% and 55% of people feel anxious about visiting the dentist, with around one in six experiencing dental phobia severe enough to avoid treatment altogether. Sadly, delaying treatment often allows small problems to become bigger ones, leading to more discomfort and more complex care.

Sometimes those worries stem from previous experiences or childhood memories. For others it's fear of injections, drills or discomfort. Often, it's simply the worry that they have left things too long and might be judged. The longer we wait, the harder it can feel to make that appointment, creating a cycle that's difficult to break.

It's something we have put a great deal of thought into at Crossbank Dental Care, taking every step we can to make visiting us feel as comfortable and reassuring as possible.

Care through and through

We know the experience starts long before you sit in the dental chair. That is why we have created a calm, welcoming environment where you can relax with a cup of tea or coffee, sink into one of our sofas, enjoy some background music and simply "take a breath" before your appointment.

Your friendly personal Treatment Coordinator will guide you through your no-rush journey, from discussing your smile wish-list to talking through your options and introducing you to your equally understanding Dentist, Dental Therapist and Nurse. Modern digital technology also helps make appointments far more comfortable than many people remember, with gentle 3D scanning and imaging replacing many traditional techniques, while our sedation services can help those who feel particularly anxious.

We can never completely remove those first butterflies, but we can promise you will always be met with kindness, understanding and absolutely no judgement. If you have been putting off that first appointment, please don't worry. Often, making the call is the hardest part, and we will be here to help you every step of the way.

Three small steps if you are feeling nervous about visiting the dentist:

• Tell us you are feeling anxious when you book; we will make sure we allow plenty of time.

• Bring a friend or family member if it helps you feel more comfortable.

• Remember, your first appointment may simply be a conversation about your options, with no pressure to begin treatment.
  

"Summer Smile" special discounts - last chance!

One final reminder before I go... don't miss our Summer Smile offer, with reductions on teeth whitening available only until the end of August!

• Standard Treatment Price: £359 (usually £424)

• Crossbank Dental Care Plan Members: £288 (usually £339)*

*Speak to us about additional member benefits available this summer.

VAT increase in some dental products

From 7th September 2026, HMRC will be adding VAT at 20% to the cost of certain dental appliances, including applicable Invisalign aligners and Vivera retainers.

At Crossbank Dental Care, we will honour any current Invisalign quotations still within their three-month validity. If your quotation has expired and you would like to proceed at the current fee, your treatment plan will need to be accepted and payment made by 20th August 2026 to allow our clinical team to finalise your plan and submit it for manufacture before the new VAT charge applies.

If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Seeing is believing

We have been enjoying having Charlie Ashman (a friend of my son, this is a new era!) taking photos and filming around the practice this summer. Charlie is currently editing everything together with impressive professionalism, and we can't wait to share the results.

One of the highlights was hearing directly from some of our lovely patients who kindly agreed to record video testimonials about the treatment and support they have received here. Their stories are genuine, honest and incredibly reassuring; and I hope they will encourage anyone who is feeling a little apprehensive about taking that first step.

Back to School?

I know it's a dreaded phrase, but one of the lovely things about the approaching new school year is our Tooth Fairy giving her wings an extra sparkle, ready to visit playgroups, nurseries and primary schools.

Helping children build healthy habits from an early age is something we are really passionate about. Through fun, accessible sessions on oral health, prevention and looking after growing smiles, we hope to give children the confidence and knowledge they will carry with them for years to come.

If your school or nursery would be interested in a visit, we'd love to hear from you.

Until next time

Wishing everyone a lovely end to the summer. I'll keep you posted on how the assignment goes – I suspect there may be quite a few cups of coffee involved before the October deadline!

There is plenty to keep us busy over the coming months, including a big milestone in our drive for sustainability and ethical practice, which I am hoping to share in my next blog. And just as I tick off one major writing project, it is looking like Neil is invited to present at an autumn conference, so I don't think my keyboard will be allowed to cool down completely just yet!

All the best,

Bex x