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Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get discussed enough: dental fear is incredibly common, often deeply rooted, and absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. If you’re reading this and you haven’t been to a dentist in years—maybe five, maybe ten, maybe longer—you’re not alone. Not even close.
Studies suggest that somewhere between 10% and 20% of people avoid dental care due to significant anxiety or fear. That’s millions of people across the UK living with dental problems that are getting progressively worse, all because the thought of sitting in a dental chair triggers genuine panic. Perhaps you’ve cancelled appointments at the last minute. Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that your teeth “aren’t that bad” when you know, deep down, that they need attention. Or perhaps you’ve simply accepted that you’ll lose your teeth eventually because the alternative—facing your fear—feels impossible.
Here’s what we want you to know: it doesn’t have to be this way. At Queen Square Dental Clinic in Bristol, Dr Mark Gillis has built his entire practice around helping people exactly like you. Not through pressure or judgement, but through understanding, advanced sedation techniques, and a genuine commitment to making dental care accessible to even the most anxious patients.
Understanding Dental Phobia: You’re Not Being “Silly”
First, let’s make an important distinction. Dental anxiety—feeling a bit nervous before an appointment—is normal and manageable. Dental phobia is something else entirely. It’s an intense, overwhelming fear that can trigger physical symptoms: racing heart, sweating, nausea, and difficulty breathing. For some people, just thinking about booking an appointment is enough to trigger panic.
This isn’t about being “difficult” or “oversensitive”. Dental phobia often has roots in past experiences. Maybe you had a painful procedure as a child. Perhaps you felt powerless or not listened to during previous dental treatment. Sometimes the fear is connected to other anxieties—about loss of control, about medical settings generally, or about perceived judgement regarding the current state of your teeth.
And here’s the cruel cycle: the longer you avoid the dentist, the worse your dental problems become, which makes the fear even more intense. You imagine the dentist will be angry or dismissive. You worry about the cost. You feel embarrassed about the state of your mouth. So you continue to avoid treatment, and the problems compound.
Dr Gillis sees this pattern constantly. He’s certified by Dental Phobia—an organisation dedicated to understanding and addressing the specific needs of anxious dental patients—and he wants you to know something crucial: there is no judgement here. None. He’s treated hundreds of patients who haven’t been to a dentist in decades, and his response is always the same: “I’m glad you’re here now. Let’s work together to help you.”
What Makes Sedation Dentistry Different in Bristol
The breakthrough for many phobic patients comes through sedation dentistry. This isn’t just about numbing your mouth—it’s about managing the psychological and emotional experience of dental treatment. Dr Gillis has advanced training in treating nervous patients and is a member of the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry, which represents the highest standards in this specialised field.
At Queen Square, we primarily use intravenous (IV) sedation for patients with significant dental anxiety. Let’s talk about what this actually involves and why it’s so effective.
IV sedation is sometimes called “conscious sedation” or “twilight sedation”. You’re not unconscious like you would be under general anaesthesia. Instead, you’re in a deeply relaxed, dreamlike state. Most patients remain able to respond to simple instructions, but they feel completely calm and detached from any anxiety. Time seems to pass incredibly quickly—a procedure that takes two hours might feel like twenty minutes.
Here’s what patients tell us most often: “I don’t remember being worried.” That dissociation from anxiety is precisely what makes sedation so transformative for phobic patients. The fear that’s been controlling your life simply isn’t there during treatment.
Afterwards, you won’t remember much about the procedure itself. This is actually beneficial—you’re not adding another potentially distressing dental memory to the collection that’s fuelling your phobia. Instead, you’re left with a memory of feeling calm and cared for, which can help rebuild your relationship with dental care over time.
The Safety Credentials That Matter
If you’re considering sedation dentistry in Bristol, you want to know you’re in safe hands. This is serious medication administered intravenously, and it requires specific training, ongoing professional development, and strict adherence to safety protocols.
Dr Gillis’s membership in the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry isn’t just a credential—it’s a commitment to maintaining the highest standards in sedation practice. The Society requires members to stay current with the latest techniques, safety guidelines, and best practices. It’s about accountability and excellence in a field where these qualities are non-negotiable.
At Queen Square Dental Clinic, sedation treatments follow rigorous protocols. Before any sedation, there’s a thorough medical history review and assessment to ensure you’re a suitable candidate. During the procedure, your vital signs are continuously monitored. You’ll need someone to accompany you to and from the appointment, and you won’t be able to drive or make important decisions for 24 hours afterwards—sensible precautions that ensure your safety.
The environment matters too. Sedation dentistry isn’t something that should happen in a rushed, high-volume practice. At Queen Square, there’s time built into the schedule. Dr Gillis never makes you feel like you’re holding things up or being a nuisance. The focus is entirely on your comfort and safety.
Beyond Sedation: The Calm, Professional Approach
Whilst sedation is the key tool for managing severe dental phobia, Dr Gillis’s approach encompasses much more. His manner has been described as calm and professional—qualities that might sound unremarkable until you’re in the middle of a panic attack and someone’s steady, reassuring presence helps ground you.
He understands that phobic patients need control. You’re not strapped into the chair and told to cope. Instead, you’re part of the conversation from the start. What are your specific fears? What’s triggered problems in the past? What would help you feel safer? These aren’t rhetorical questions—they shape how your treatment proceeds.
Many anxious patients benefit from a “getting to know you” appointment where nothing invasive happens. You meet Dr Gillis, see the practice, ask questions about sedation, and leave. That’s it. No pressure, no judgement, no treatment until you’re ready. For some people, just knowing this option exists reduces anxiety significantly.
What Sedation Dentistry Can Accomplish
One of the most powerful aspects of IV sedation is efficiency. Because you’re deeply relaxed and comfortable, Dr Gillis can often complete multiple procedures in a single appointment that would normally require several visits. For someone who’s avoided the dentist for years, this is transformative.
Imagine you need several fillings, perhaps an extraction, and some gum treatment. Traditionally, that’s multiple appointments, each one triggering anxiety, each one requiring you to psych yourself up and force yourself through the door. With sedation, it can all be done in one session. You arrive nervous, you’re gently eased into a peaceful state, the work is completed, and when you wake up, it’s done. Months of dental anxiety compressed into a single manageable experience.
Dr Gillis also has accreditations in implant dentistry, which become relevant for patients who’ve lost teeth due to years of dental neglect. The restoration work that rebuilds a smile can also be completed under sedation, meaning you’re not just addressing immediate problems—you’re comprehensively restoring your oral health in a way that feels manageable.
He’s equally qualified in wisdom tooth removal, a procedure that causes anxiety even for people without dental phobia. Under IV sedation, what could be a distressing experience becomes something you barely remember.
The Wider Philosophy at Queen Square: Patient-Centric Care in Bristol
Dr Gillis’s expertise fits perfectly within the broader philosophy at Queen Square Dental Clinic. This is a practice that’s built its reputation on what founder Dr Alfonso Rao calls “continental warmth”—a genuine, human approach to dental care that recognises you’re not a set of teeth; you’re a person with feelings, fears, and individual needs.
The award-winning team at Queen Square understands that anxiety comes in many forms. Some patients are fine with routine care but terrified of needles. Others are anxious about specific sounds or smells. Some have general anxiety that manifests acutely in dental settings. Whatever your particular fear, there’s no eye-rolling, no minimising, and no suggestion that you should “just get over it”.
This patient-centric approach extends to every aspect of your experience. The clinic environment at 17 Queen Square is designed to feel welcoming rather than clinical. The reception team understands that someone calling to book an appointment might be doing one of the hardest things they’ve done in years. There’s kindness in every interaction.
Taking the First Step: It’s Harder Than Treatment Itself
Here’s something Dr Gillis says often: for most phobic patients, the hardest part is making that first phone call. Actually sitting in the chair is easier once you’ve got there. The anticipation, the dread, the imagining of worst-case scenarios—that’s where the real suffering happens. The treatment itself, especially under sedation, is almost anticlimactic.
If you’re reading this and thinking “that’s me,” we want to encourage you to take that first step. You don’t have to commit to treatment immediately. You’re just making a phone call. Just having a conversation. Just meeting Dr Gillis to discuss what sedation involves and whether it might help you.
What you’ll find is understanding, not judgement. Dr Gillis has heard every story and seen every level of dental neglect, and his response is always compassionate. He’s not interested in making you feel bad about the past; he’s interested in helping you move forward.
Your Teeth Deserve Care, and So Do You
Years of avoiding dental care doesn’t just affect your teeth—it affects your confidence, your health, and your quality of life. You stop smiling freely. You worry about bad breath. You might experience chronic pain that you’ve learnt to live with. You avoid certain foods. The psychological burden is exhausting.
You deserve better. You deserve to be able to eat comfortably, smile without self-consciousness, and stop carrying the weight of dental fear and neglect.
At Queen Square Dental Clinic in Bristol, we’ve helped countless patients move from years of avoidance to a place where dental care feels manageable, even routine. Dr Gillis’s expertise in sedation dentistry, combined with his genuine understanding of dental phobia, creates a safe harbour for even the most anxious patients.
If you’re ready to take that first step—or even if you’re just curious about whether sedation dentistry might help—we’d love to hear from you. Call Queen Square Dental Clinic on 0117 927 2797. Let’s have a conversation with no pressure, no judgement, and no obligation. You’ve been carrying this burden long enough. We’re here to help you put it down.
