Our specialty
Nervous About the Dentist? We Built Our Careers Here.
Dr Louis George and Dr Jeremy Collins are both ex-military (Royal Navy and Australian Army) and have spent most of their dental careers helping anxious patients. This isn’t a page about making allowances for nervous patients — this is what Sunny Dental Buderim was built around. Registered Nurse Dwi George BSc monitors all sedation procedures on-site.
You’re Not Alone in This
Dental anxiety is one of the most common fears in Australia. Studies suggest around one in six adults experiences significant dental anxiety, and for many it’s severe enough to avoid the dentist entirely — sometimes for years or even decades. Patients travel from Sippy Downs, Mountain Creek, Maroochydore, and across the Sunshine Coast because of what Dr Louis and Dr Jeremy do differently for anxious patients.
Maybe you had a bad experience as a child
A painful visit, a dismissive dentist, or feeling out of control can leave lasting anxiety. Those feelings are valid — and they don’t make you a difficult patient. They make you human.
Maybe you’re embarrassed about your teeth
Feeling self-conscious about your teeth can make it harder to reach out. It’s a common experience. Our team provides a relaxed, completely judgment-free environment. You are not the first person to feel this way — not even close.
Maybe it’s the sounds, the smells, the loss of control
The drill sound. The antiseptic smell. Lying back with your mouth open. These are real sensory triggers, and we take every one of them seriously. They can be mitigated — with preparation, communication, and sedation if needed.
Maybe life just got in the way
Kids, work, money, moving — there are a hundred reasons people fall out of the dental routine. And then a few years becomes a decade. That’s okay. You’re here now. That’s the hard part.
What Dr Louis and Dr Jeremy Do Differently
Both spent most of their dental careers working with anxious patients before opening Sunny Dental in Buderim. These aren’t policies from a corporate handbook — they’re things these two practitioners have done consistently, every day, for years.
We Start With a Conversation
Your first appointment doesn’t need to include any treatment. If you need to sit in the chair, have a chat, and leave — that’s a successful visit. We go at your pace, not ours.
A Real Stop Signal
Raise your hand and we stop. Not “just a second.” Not “almost done.” We stop immediately. You are always in control of what happens in your mouth. This is non-negotiable.
Longer Appointments, No Rushing
We book extra time for anxious patients so there’s no pressure. If you need breaks, you take breaks. If treatment needs to be spread over two visits instead of one, that’s completely fine.
Explain Everything Before Doing It
Fear of the unknown amplifies anxiety. Your dentist explains each step before they do it — what they’re going to do, what you’ll feel, and how long it will take. No surprises, no sudden movements.
Same Dentist Every Visit
Building trust takes time. Dr Louis and Dr Jeremy are the only dentists at this practice. The relationship you build stays. You won’t be handed to someone you’ve never met.
Bring Support
Your partner, a friend, a parent — whoever makes you feel safer. They’re welcome to sit with you in the treatment room throughout the appointment. Whatever helps.
Sedation Options
A calm environment and a gentle approach go a long way — but sometimes that’s not enough on its own. We offer three tiers of sedation. All sedation procedures are monitored by Dwi George BSc, our Registered Nurse, which is not standard at most Sunshine Coast dental practices.
Happy Gas (Nitrous Oxide)
A mild sedative inhaled through a small nose mask. Creates a warm, relaxed feeling within minutes. You remain fully conscious and can communicate normally. Wears off quickly after removal — you can drive home.
Suitable for mild to moderate anxiety and shorter procedures.
Oral Sedation
A prescription tablet taken 30–60 minutes before your appointment. You’ll feel deeply relaxed and drowsy while remaining conscious. Many patients have little memory of the procedure. You’ll need someone to drive you home.
Suitable for moderate to significant anxiety or longer procedures.
IV Sedation
Administered intravenously for the deepest level of conscious sedation. You remain breathing on your own but feel completely relaxed. Most patients remember very little. Dwi George BSc (Registered Nurse) monitors throughout — this is not standard at most dental practices.
Suitable for severe anxiety or complex procedures. Requires an escort home.
What to Expect on Your First Visit
No surprises. Here’s exactly what will happen when you walk through our door on King Street, Buderim.
A Warm Welcome
You’ll be greeted by name. No clipboard shoved in your face. Just a hello, an offer of water, and time to settle in. If you’re feeling nervous, tell us — or don’t. We can usually tell, and we’ll adjust accordingly.
A Conversation First
Before anything clinical happens, your dentist sits down and talks. What brings you in? What are you worried about? What has happened in the past? This conversation sets the tone for everything that follows.
A Gentle Look (Only If You’re Ready)
If you’re comfortable, your dentist will take a gentle look at your teeth. If you’re not ready for that today, that’s completely fine. There is zero pressure to do anything you aren’t ready for.
Honest, Clear Options
If there is work to be done, your dentist will explain what they found, what the options are, what they’d recommend, and what it will cost. Take the treatment plan home. Think about it. Call with questions. No pressure to decide on the spot.
You Decide What Happens Next
You’re in charge. Start treatment today if you want, or take a week to process. If you needed to prove to yourself that you could walk through the door — that counts as a win. We’re proud of you for being here.
Haven’t Been in Years?
Three years. Five years. Ten. Twenty. Patients from across Buderim, Sippy Downs, Mountain Creek, and the Sunshine Coast come to us after long gaps away from the dentist. We have seen it all, and we can tell you honestly: it is almost never as bad as you think it’s going to be.
The scenarios you’ve been playing in your head — where the dentist looks at you a certain way and says things that make you feel terrible — don’t happen here.
Here’s what actually happens: you walk in, we have a chat, we take a gentle look, and we make a plan together. Most patients say afterwards, “I wish I’d come sooner.”
The hardest part is making the call. Everything after that, we make easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I haven’t been to the dentist in years?
You’re not alone. It is very common to go several years — or longer — between dental visits, especially when anxiety is a factor. Our team welcomes patients who have not visited in some time. We start with a conversation, not a drill. The first visit is about understanding where things are and making a plan together, at your pace.
Will you judge me for the state of my teeth?
No. Full stop. Dr Louis and Dr Jeremy have spent their careers helping anxious patients and have seen everything. Their job is to help — not to lecture. You won’t get a guilt trip, a disappointed look, or a “you really should have come sooner.” They focus entirely on where you’re going, not where you’ve been.
What sedation options do you offer?
Three tiers: happy gas (nitrous oxide) for mild to moderate anxiety, oral sedation (a prescription tablet) for more significant anxiety, and IV sedation for the deepest level of conscious relaxation available in a dental chair. All sedation is monitored by Dwi George BSc, our Registered Nurse, throughout the procedure — something most dental practices don’t offer.
Can I bring someone with me?
Absolutely. Bring whoever makes you feel safer — a partner, a friend, a parent. They’re welcome to sit with you in the treatment room throughout your appointment.
What if I have a panic attack during the appointment?
Then we stop, sit you up, and give you time to breathe. No one will tell you to toughen up or rush you. If you need to reschedule, that’s fine. If you want to try again after a break, also fine. This is your appointment and you are always in control.
Do I need a referral?
No referral needed. Call us on (07) 5445 8400 to book or just to ask a question before committing. We are located on King Street, Buderim, and we see patients from Sippy Downs, Mountain Creek, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, and across the Sunshine Coast.
All dental treatments carry risks. Outcomes vary between individuals. The information on this website is general in nature and does not replace personalised advice. A consultation with a registered dental practitioner is necessary to assess your individual needs. Sedation options are subject to medical suitability assessment.
The Hardest Part Is Making the Call
You don’t need a brave face. You don’t need your teeth to be in great shape before you come. You just need to get here.
Dr Louis and Dr Jeremy will handle the rest.