Fear of the dentist is more common than most people realize. For many, the thought of walking into a dental office—let alone sitting in the chair—can trigger anxiety, stress, or even panic. The sound of the drill, the vibration, the anticipation of a needle… these are things that can keep someone from booking an appointment for months—or years.
But here’s the thing: avoiding the dentist doesn’t solve the problem. It often makes things worse.
At Health & Beauty Dentistry in Kelowna, Dr. Shauna Palmer and her team see this every day—and they’ve made it their mission to provide a different kind of dental experience. One that’s built around comfort, trust, and the kind of care that doesn’t trigger fear, but relieves it.
Breaking the Cycle of Dental Avoidance
Many people who experience dental anxiety aren’t avoiding care because they don’t value their oral health. In fact, it’s usually the opposite. They want to take care of their teeth, but fear holds them back. Often, that fear is rooted in a past experience: a painful procedure, a dentist who didn’t listen, or a childhood visit that left a lasting impression.
As dental issues build up, so does the anxiety. A little tooth sensitivity turns into a bigger problem. A cracked tooth starts to ache. And still, the fear wins.
Until something changes.
A Gentle Revolution: The Solea® Dental Laser
At Health & Beauty Dentistry, that change starts with Solea®—a revolutionary dental laser that replaces the drill for most common procedures and often eliminates the need for needles or numbing.
- No whirring sounds
- No sharp vibrations
- No freezing
- No post-treatment numbness
The Solea Laser is fast, quiet, and gentle. For someone who’s lived with dental anxiety for years, it can be nothing short of life-changing. Patients can walk in for a filling and walk out minutes later with no discomfort—and no lingering numbness. It’s dentistry, reimagined.
Why it Aligns with Dr. Palmer’s Holistic Philosophy
Dr. Shauna Palmer is a holistic dentist, which means she treats more than just teeth. She looks at how oral health affects the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. That includes how fear, trauma, and anxiety impact a person’s willingness to seek care.
Solea fits beautifully into that approach. It’s minimally invasive, highly precise, and supports a calmer, more empowered dental experience. Dr. Palmer has also committed to ongoing training with Solea to expand the range of services she can provide using this technology, including soft tissue procedures and airway therapies.
What we Often Hear from Our Patients
“I’ve avoided the dentist for years.”
“I can’t handle the sound of the drill.”
“I’ve had too many bad experiences.”
“I wish it didn’t have to be so stressful.”
These are things we hear regularly from patients—especially first-time visitors. And we get it. Dental fear isn’t something people make up. It’s real, and it deserves to be taken seriously.
We’ve had patients come to us in full panic mode… and leave smiling because their experience was so different from what they expected. With Solea, many say, “That was it?” It’s quiet. It’s gentle. It’s fast. And best of all, it helps people move past the fear and into a healthier, more confident future.
There’s a Better Way to Care for Your Smile
Fear of the dentist doesn’t have to be permanent. With the right tools, the right philosophy, and the right team, it’s possible to change the experience entirely.
At Health & Beauty Dentistry in Kelowna, Dr. Palmer and her team are committed to making dental care safe, supportive, and surprisingly comfortable—especially for those who never thought they’d feel that way in a dental chair.
Whether you’ve been putting off care for months or decades, you deserve a different kind of experience. One that respects your fears and replaces them with trust.
It’s never too late to reclaim your smile—and your confidence.
Let that first step be a gentle one.
