Patient guide
Nervous about the dentist? How we keep visits comfortable
Practical ways to make a dental visit easier, especially in a foreign country, and what you can ask the clinic to do differently.
By Dr. Kang Jun-guMedically reviewed by Dr. Kang Jun-guPublished Updated 3 min read
Quick answer
Tell the clinic you're nervous when you book. Agree on a stop signal, ask for each step to be explained before it happens, and ask about numbing gel before injections. Short first visits, such as a check-up only, help build trust before any treatment.
Before the visit
- Say you're anxious when booking
- Choose a morning slot so you're not waiting all day
- Eat a light meal beforehand
- Bring headphones
In the chair
- Agree a stop signal, like raising your left hand
- Ask for each step to be explained first
- Ask for numbing gel before injections
- Take breaks whenever you need
What we do differently
We use careful local anaesthesia, a gentle injection system and low-sensitivity scaling. Dr. Kang explains each step in English, and you can stop at any point.
Questions people also ask
Is scaling painful?
Most people feel vibration and some cold rather than pain. If your teeth are sensitive, tell us and we'll adjust the pace or use numbing gel.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes. A friend or family member can come into the room if you'd like.
Need this looked at in Seoul?
Check-ups, scaling and whitening, with fees shown before we start.
Dr. Kang is a board-certified Integrated Dentistry specialist trained at Yonsei, Harvard and Columbia. He treats every patient at the Gongdeok clinic himself.
About Dr. KangHow we write these guides: each guide is written from questions our patients ask, reviewed by Dr. Kang, and updated when guidance changes. It is general information, not a diagnosis. For advice about your own teeth, please book a check-up.
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