Can Someone Come With Me?
Plan a companion's role before your visit, from remembering questions to helping with communication and getting home when required.
Ask before arriving
If another person would help you attend, mention it when booking. The ODA includes requesting a support person among strategies for dental anxiety. Ask whether your companion can join the consultation or treatment area and whether there are any practical limits to discuss.[1]
Choose a useful job for them. Perhaps they take notes, remind you of one important question, or sit quietly while you speak. Tell them what you would rather discuss privately. Having support does not mean handing over every conversation.
Make room for your own answer
At the appointment, introduce the person and explain the help you want. You might say: "Please speak to me first; Sam is here to help me remember." If you want a few minutes alone with the clinician, ask for that too.
A companion and a required escort after sedation are not necessarily interchangeable arrangements. If sedation is planned, confirm the clinic's instructions about transport, supervision and timing in advance. Make sure the person helping you has agreed to the actual responsibilities, rather than discovering them at the reception desk.