Q. I hate going to the dentist but I need my teeth looking after. Help! Mrs B, Westhoughton

A. Dental phobia is really common, with women twice more likely to suffer than men. Ways to help you take that vital first step include; relaxation techniques and breathing exercises, visiting the dental practice before your appointment to meet the team and having a consultation with the dentist before any treatment is carried out to give you more control of the situation.

Hypnotherapy sessions can improve your phobia, or you can bring in your MP3 player and listen to your favourite music during treatment. Intravenous sedation for treatments can make you feel relaxed whilst being fully awake. It’s a costly option and will require you to have a chaperone with you, but it’s still a good route for really nervous patients.

Q. My friend has had her dental treatment carried out abroad. How safe is it? Mr N, Bury

A. It’s becoming popular to have cosmetic dental treatments carried out abroad due to cheaper prices but, from our experience with patients who have done this, do your homework first.

Some things you should research or take into consideration before having treatment done abroad:

• How well can they speak English? Would they understand you? You need to know what to expect after treatment.
• Is the dentist really qualified? Dentists in the UK have to register with the General Dental Council to ensure they’re qualified and follow set guidelines. You can check any dentist’s registration and qualifications on the GDC website but some countries don’t have such a governing body.
• Major cosmetic treatments do require long-term care and need monitoring so that any worrying issues are picked up early before they become a problem.
• Do they sterilise their equipment and instruments? Disease and viruses can be passed through saliva on instruments and equipment. In the UK, all dental practices follow strict guidelines on sterilisation and cross-infection.