New patients welcome · The Comprehensive Care Visit $297 (valued at $499) · See what's included
Gentle dentistry for nervous and anxious patients

Scared of the dentist? You're exactly who we're best with.

If fear has kept you away, you're in the right place. Looking after anxious patients is one of the things we're known for. Tell us you're nervous, and we go entirely at your pace, with no judgement and no pressure.

★★★★★ 5.0 on Google40+ years localHappy gas available

No lectures. No raised eyebrows. Just a calm team that does this every day.

Warm, reassuring photo: a calm, relaxed patient with a gentle clinician, soft natural light.
Dental fear is normal, and valid

If you've been putting it off, you're in good company

Around one in six Australian adults avoids the dentist because of fear, often after one bad experience a long time ago. It says nothing about you, and it's never too late. We treat anxiety as a normal thing to manage, not a problem to judge.

Whatever's behind it, it's valid. For most people it's one of these:

Fear of painNeedlesThe sounds and smellsFeeling out of controlEmbarrassment about your teethA bad experience in the pastNot knowing what's coming

Knowing what's behind it is the first step, and we'll work through it with you, at your pace.

Why nervous patients trust us

A genuinely different way of working with fear

Our approach combines careful clinical care with a calm, coaching-informed way of communicating, developed specifically for dental anxiety. It's the reason patients who dread the dentist end up comfortable here.

01

A coaching-informed approach to fear

Beyond gentle hands, we understand the psychology of dental fear, and we use calm, proven communication to help you feel safe from the moment you arrive.

02

You're always in control

We agree a simple stop signal before we start. Raise your hand and everything pauses, no questions asked. Nothing happens that you haven't agreed to.

03

Unhurried time, gentle hands

We book longer, so you're never rushed through a chair. Slow, careful, and as comfortable as modern dentistry allows.

04

No surprises, ever

We explain everything in plain language, show you what we see, and confirm any costs before we begin. Certainty is what calms the nerves.

Looking after frightened patients isn't a sideline for us. It's one of the things we're known for.

You set the pace

This is your appointment, on your terms

Stop any time. Ask anything. Take it slow. Bring someone. Decide later.

Nothing happens without your say-so. Tell us what you need, and that's how we'll do it.
Soft, reassuring image: happy-gas setup, a calm treatment room, or a relaxed patient with headphones.
Whatever helps you feel safe

Comfort is part of the treatment

Our goal is to help you feel genuinely calm and in control, not to put you to sleep. For most nervous patients, happy gas and a slow, gentle approach is all it takes to feel completely at ease: awake, aware and relaxed.

Tell us what worries you most, and we'll build the appointment around it.

Happy gas (nitrous oxide)Calm, unhurried pacingAgreed stop signalsNumbing that actually worksBring a support personHeadphones and musicBreaks whenever you need

Take the first step, gently

Book a visit, or just leave your number and we'll call you, whatever feels easier. No judgement, no pressure, ever.

From people who felt the same

They were terrified too

“I'd put off the dentist for nine years and cried in the car park before my first visit. They were so calm and kind that I now come every six months without a second thought.”

Patient story — once very anxious

“The stop signal changed everything for me. Knowing I could pause any time meant I never needed to. First time in my life I didn't dread it.”

Patient story — dental phobia
The people you'll meet

A calm team that genuinely gets it

Led by Dr Anbar Ganatra, our team pairs gentle clinical care with a real understanding of why the dentist feels frightening. That blend of clinical skill and calm, behaviour-aware communication is exactly what makes anxious patients feel safe here.

You'll see the same friendly faces each visit, which is its own kind of reassurance.

Meet the full team
Warm team photo: real faces, friendly and approachable, in the clinic.
No financial surprises

Clear costs, decided together

Cost worries can be as stressful as the dentistry itself. You'll always get a clear written estimate before anything goes ahead, your first visit is our Comprehensive Care Visit at one simple price of $297 with everything included, and we offer payment plans for larger treatment. Nothing is a surprise.

See fees and health funds
Honest answers

The questions nervous patients ask

I'm embarrassed about the state of my teeth.

Please don't be. Embarrassment is one of the most common reasons people stay away, and we see it every week. There are no lectures here, only a warm welcome and a way forward.

What if I panic or need to stop?

We agree a stop signal before we start. Raise your hand and everything pauses immediately, no questions asked. You are always in control.

Do you offer sedation or sleep dentistry?

We offer happy gas (nitrous oxide), which keeps you relaxed but fully awake and in control, and it wears off quickly so you can drive yourself home. Our focus is helping you feel genuinely calm rather than unconscious, which is what most nervous patients actually want. If you think you need deeper sedation, we'll talk it through honestly and help you find the safest option.

I had a bad experience at another dentist.

Many of our most loyal patients did too. Tell us what happened so we can do the opposite. A bad past experience is exactly what our approach is built to undo.

Can I bring someone with me?

Absolutely. Bring a partner, friend or family member for support. Many people find it helps, and we're glad to have them there.

Helpful next steps

Before you book

Your first visitFees & health fundsAll services
Get in touch

We're here whenever you're ready

We move at your pace. Let's start with a relaxed, no-pressure chat.

East St Kilda Dental
364 Dandenong Rd, East St Kilda VIC 3183

Opening hours

  • Mon – Thu8.30am – 4.00pm
  • Friday8.30am – 4.30pm
  • Saturday (monthly)8.00am – 4.00pm
  • SundayClosed

Caring for families on the corner of Dandenong Road since 1980, across Melbourne's inner south-east.

Send us a message

Nervous about the dentist? You're in safe hands.

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We respond to all enquiries within one business day. Prefer to call? (03) 9527 3678