Roughly, 75 percent of people fear the dentist. Approximately 10 percent have a strong enough fear that they never go to the dentist until an emergency forces the visit. This distress comes from the sound of the drill, a bad experience, getting a shot in the mouth, gagging or choking — the list goes on.

Stephanie’s fear started at age 11 when a dentist wanted to break her jaw to fix an under bite or face a lifetime of what he described as looking like a gorilla. She left the office crying.

Stephanie went to the dentist two more times by the age of 30. She was fighting cavities despite exceptional oral health. The dentist filled the cavities without discussion or explanation. Stephanie left the practice feeling guilty and confused about the condition of her teeth.

TCCH family practice physician, Larry Greenspoon, MD, suggested Stephanie make an appointment with Mark Gaponiuk, DMD at the Fellsmere location. “From the moment I sat down in Dr. Gap’s chair he was very warm and accepting and explained everything I needed done. The rapport he had with me, and his mannerisms, it was very calming. I was not nervous about anything,” Stephanie said.

Not only did Stephanie gain a new love of dentistry she also found answers about her cavities. A TCCH dental hygienist explained how a recent diagnosis of Sjogren’s Syndrome and Lupus was affecting her dental health. Stephanie said, “It [eased] my mind knowing that I was doing what I was supposed to do. It’s just not anything that I can control.” The hygienist also provided her with a list of products specifically designed for people with Sjogren’s.

Simple acts of kindness and taking time to educate Stephanie removed her fear of dentistry. She adds, “I tell everybody to come here. Every one of my friends knows that I absolutely love Treasure Coast Community Health.”

By the way, Stephanie never fixed her very slight under bite.