24/07/2026
“My daughter moved to Australia last year and she told me before she sees me again she wants me to have seen a dentist so I’m keeping my promise!”
Clodagh initially attended Dr Emily Hayes in our Maynooth clinic initially and Emily suggested that Clodagh came to me to help manage her dental phobia.
When she attended, Clodagh explained that she can never remember a time where it was not a big deal for her. She always puts it off and fell into that vicious cycle of only attending when in pain.
Her main fear was that something was going to hurt. She was emotional speaking about it. Hadn’t slept the night before and just found it completely overwhelming.
We re-assured her that she can overcome this. I explained that with positive experiences, that ‘threat level’ that her brain is currently detecting can gradually be diluted.
Well that was in January and here we are today.
What a difference!
After initially stabilising the health of the mouth, we moved on the being able to improve the appearance too. And look at Clodagh smile now!
When I caught up with her to fit a little guard to protect her now beautiful teeth, she explained she’s been absolutely LOVING the new smile.
She said she’s smiling more having been blocking or masking her smile for years. (This masking often relates partly due to the appearance but partly due to the shame that people with dental anxiety feel about not addressing their teeth. I see and hear this all the time unfortunately).
Now she’s getting loads of compliments!
Clodagh said she simple can’t believe she has made such progress.
Her family are big Man United fans so they told her to ensure she doesn’t come back looking like Jurgen Klopp. Well, now she just looks like Clodagh again. Clodagh with a fresh, healthy, bright smile and I’m sure you’ll agree it very much suits her!
