How to conquer your dental fear – A NEW Dental Phobia workshopLearn more here >

Book now     Message us today     Call us: 02392 828 193

Conquer your dental fear – NEW Dental Phobia workshopLearn more >

Book an appointmentCall us: 02392 828 193

Dental Phobia

Dental Phobia Workshop

Turn fear into confidence at the Dentist

Discover gentle, proven methods to manage dental anxiety with Dr. Antonia Salzl’s ‘Dental Phobia Workshop’ to conquer your fears – designed for people who feel overwhelmed, panicked, or even avoid the dentist altogether.

Available workshop dates:

  • Light lunch with tea and coffee included
Book online now
Book online now
Book online now

For all other booking enquiries, contact us.

Contact Us on WhatsApp
Contact Us by SMS
Contact Us by Phone

Hi, I’m Dr. Antonia Salzl – and I know first-hand what it means to be afraid of the dentist.

Not too long ago, my own daughter needed a simple filling. What should have been a routine appointment turned into a heartbreaking struggle. Each attempt ended with panic attacks, tears, and overwhelming fear – not just for her, but for me too, as her mum and her dentist. The very mention of “teeth” was enough to make her anxious, breathless, and distressed.
I couldn’t accept that dental care had to feel this way. So I teamed up with my sister – a psychologist with years of experience helping people overcome fear – and together, we explored proven methods to understand anxiety, calm the mind, and gently retrain the brain’s fear response.
With patience, practice, and the right tools, my daughter learned how to take control of her thoughts and fears. Step by step, she grew stronger – and to my absolute joy, she was able to sit through her filling without panic. Since then, she’s been far more at ease in the dental chair.
I then began sharing the same techniques with my most fearful patients. The results have been nothing short of life-changing. I’ve seen people go from trembling in the waiting room, unable to walk through the surgery door, to attending their 6-month check-ups with a smile on their face and a calm, confident presence.
This is why I created the Dental Phobia Workshop, to conquer your fears.

Worried this won’t work for you? You’re not alone!

Many of my patients have thought the same:
❓ “What if I panic again?”
💡 That’s okay. Fear doesn’t disappear overnight. What matters is having the right tools to calm your body and mind when the fear rises — and I’ll guide you through them step by step.
❓ “I’ve been afraid for years… is there any hope?”
💡 Absolutely. I’ve worked with people who couldn’t even step into the waiting room — and they now come for their check-ups smiling and relaxed. Change is always possible.
❓ “Will I be forced into treatment I’m not ready for?”
💡 Never. This programme is about building trust, understanding your fears, and moving forward at your pace. You stay in control the whole way through.
If you’ve lived with dental fear, please know this: you are not broken, you are not weak, and you are definitely not alone. With the right approach, it really is possible to sit in the chair without panic taking over.

Review from a member of our March '26 workshop, Julia and husband

I attended the phobia workshop to support my partner, who has a severe dental phobia. The workshop made me feel confident in how to help and support him, and gave me the reassurance I needed.

The impact was incredible! My partner booked a dental appointment the very next day, which is something I never thought I would see. It has been a huge weight off our shoulders.

Antonia and Emma have been nothing but supportive. They took the time to get to know us and worked hard to build a friendly, trusting relationship. Their approach made us both feel comfortable and confident in trusting the practice with my partner’s dental care. Antonia’s use of humour also helped to make light of what can be a very difficult situation.

What worked particularly well for us was the structure of the workshop. The first half took place in a non-clinical environment, which helped ease anxiety, followed by attending the dentist for an introduction to the tools and equipment, which we found very interesting.

It was also incredibly reassuring to learn that Dental Wave is fully equipped to support patients with dental phobias. Options such as using a scanner instead of a full dental check-up, while still achieving equally effective results. The availability of sedation really helped put our minds at ease.

My partner walked into the workshop pale faced and full of anxiety, but came out with the biggest smile on his face. Although he is not cured, he now feels able to trust Antonia at the Dental Wave, which is a huge step forward. With the support of Emma going above and beyond answering all of our questions before attending the workshop and our upcoming appointment.

I cannot thank Emma and Antonia enough,  this could be the start to changing something you have always wanted to do!

A week later, we are still smiling about how well it went and we are so glad I pushed my partner to go! I am so proud of my partner and very grateful to the Dental Wave.

How to conquer your Dental Phobia

Join our 'Dental Phobia Workshop' at our practice, it's a safe, supportive space designed to help you:

  • Step 1 - Understand your fears
  • You’ll share your story, your fears, and your past experiences. There’s no judgement here — only understanding.
  • Step 2 - Learn about Fear
  • Together, we’ll explore how anxiety works in the brain and body. When you understand what’s happening, it already feels less overwhelming.
  • Step 3 - Gentle Tools & Techniques
  • You will learn through proven methods to calm your mind and body before and during treatment — easy, practical tools you can rely on.
  • Step 4 - Familiarising within the environment
  • We explain the equipment, the noises,the smells and what the team does, understanding means being in charge of your brain.
  • Step 5 - Take it at your own pace
  • When you’re ready, we’ll apply these tools step by step during a supported dental visit demonstration. Each success builds confidence — until the dentist’s chair no longer feels impossible.

What you'll learn

  • The psychology of dental anxiety
  • Grounding and breathing techniques
  • Exposure tools to ease fear
  • How modern, gentle dentistry works
  • What to expect before, during, and after appointments

- You’ll never be pushed faster than you’re ready to go. This is your journey, and you’re in control.

Real stories of change

“I never thought I could do it…”

One of my patients once sat crying in the waiting room, unable to even step through the door. The thought of sitting in the chair made her heart race and her body freeze with fear.
 
Together, we worked slowly, using the same gentle methods I first developed for my daughter. Step by step, she learned how to calm her thoughts and body — and eventually, she managed her first appointment without panic.
 
Today, she walks into her 6-month check-ups smiling, calm, and confident. Seeing her transformation — from terror to trust — has been one of the most rewarding moments of my career.
 
Change really is possible. Whether you’ve carried dental fear for months or decades, you too can take back control and feel safe in the chair.

- You’ll never be pushed faster than you’re ready to go. This is your journey, and you’re in control.

What our clients have to say...

When I came across The Dental Wave, I saw that they mentioned anxious patients and that they are trained in these situations to make the experience more comfortable and welcoming. I couldn't believe it at first, but they were right! It has made me feel really confident again about my teeth, which is something I never thought I would feel again.
Happy,Woman,Smiling,At,Camera,In,A,Field
Sophie OPrevious Dental Phobia patient
I didn't feel judged, just understood.
Dentist in Portsmouth, Hampshire, The Dental Wave Dentists Portsmouth
Mollie RPrevious Dental Phobia patient

A gentle invitation to take back control of your Dental Health

Dental fear can feel overwhelming, isolating, and even embarrassing — but it doesn’t define you, and you don’t have to carry it alone anymore.
 
I created the Conquer your Dental Phobia Workshop because I’ve seen the difference it makes — in my own daughter, and in patients who once thought they’d never set foot in a dental chair again.
 
If you’ve read this far, you’ve already taken the hardest step: considering change. The next step can be simple, kind, and at your own pace.
 
✨ Imagine being able to sit through treatment without panic taking over.
✨ Imagine leaving the dentist not in tears, but with a calm breath and a smile.
✨ Imagine finally feeling free from the hold of fear.
 
This is possible for you, too. And I’d be honoured to guide you there.

Face your fears with our Dental Phobia Workshop. No shame. No judgement. Just confidence. No need to talk to anyone at this stage, just click on one of the buttons below. We will then send you some material over to read at your own pace.

Contact Us on WhatsApp
Contact Us by SMS