Atlanta Dental Spa Podcast – Episode 2 Top 10 Dental Fears Dr. Peter Boulden & Dr. Shiven Gandhi

___

Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Shiven Gandhi return to tackle one of the biggest obstacles in dentistry: fear. From the sound of the drill to the fear of pain, needles, or even bad news, many patients avoid dental visits out of anxiety. In this episode, they break down the Top 10 Dental Fears and share how modern dentistry, compassionate care, and thoughtful technology have transformed the patient experience.

Dr. Gandhi explains the science behind sedation options (including IV sedation), what causes anesthesia to "not work," and how Atlanta Dental Spa uses comfort-based design and advanced tools to make even the most nervous patients feel at ease. Whether you've been avoiding the dentist for years or are just curious how far dentistry has come, this episode will give you hope and real solutions.

___

TAKEAWAYS

• Fear of pain is valid but modern anesthesia and techniques make it avoidable.
• IV sedation is one of the most powerful tools for high-anxiety patients.
• Topical numbing gels, smaller-gauge needles, and breathing exercises can reduce injection discomfort.
• The sound and smell of dental offices have changed so no more "scary drill" or eugenol triggers.
• Fear of diagnosis is real, but delaying care often leads to worse news (and higher costs).
• Atlanta Dental Spa designs every part of the experience, from lighting to music, with patient comfort in mind.
• Only 3–4% of dentists in Georgia can provide IV sedation. ADS has them at all 5 locations.

___

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome & Intro to Dental Fears

01:00 – Why fear of pain is still the #1 dental anxiety

03:00 – Why tooth pain feels so intense

04:00 – Advances in anesthesia and numbing techniques

06:00 – Fear of needles: what we do differently

07:30 – Why anesthetic sometimes "doesn't work"

09:00 – Understanding the fight-or-flight response

10:00 – Breaking the fear cycle with IV sedation

12:00 – Different levels of sedation explained

14:00 – How sedation helps even during cleanings

15:00 – Fear of sound: what we've done to quiet the drill

16:00 – Fear of smell: why you don't smell "the dentist" at ADS

17:00 – Fear of diagnosis: how we handle tough news with compassion

18:00 – Why delaying dental care makes things worse

19:00 – Final thoughts on transforming the dental experience

___

📞 Contact Us https://www.atlantadentalspa.com (404) 816-2230 [email protected]

📲 Stay Connected https://sociatap.com/atlantadentalspa/

📍 Locations: Buckhead | Poncey-Highlands | Johns Creek | East Cobb | Brookhaven https://www.atlantadentalspa.com/contact