Easing Dental Visit Anxiety

A visit to the dentist certainly can provoke anxiety, but it doesn’t have to. The team behind East End Family Dentistry in East Hampton turns frowns into smiles through their attention to patient care, use of the latest technologies, and, of course, a strong family ethos.

Dr. John French’s familial roots in Sag Harbor date back to the whaling days. His maternal grandfather worked for the State Highway Department in East Hampton and his maternal grandmother once worked at the Bulova Watch Factory and Rowe Industries, and he takes pride in being active in the community. A dentist since 2003, he’s hosted school field trips to his office and partaken in community dental screenings. He aims to rid the stigma behind visiting the dentist through education.

“People tend to get children all worked up before they even walk in the door,” French said, noting that children ages five to 10 are prone to anxiety. He recommends scheduling appointments early in the day for little ones. Thanks to modern technology, a dentist visit is a much quicker process today than years ago.

In 2017, French joined his Sag Harbor practice with Dr. Terry Jobe. Originally from Indiana, Dr. Jobe has been practicing dentistry for over 39 years and, in 2012, brought his talents to the area. “Not only was the decision to join our practices a success, but it increased our number of patients to a point we needed to expand our practice to another location,” Jobe said.

Together, French and Jobe came to East Hampton in April of 2018, taking over Dr. Jim Vaughan’s practice upon his retirement. Jobe noted, “During those 40 years, Dr. Vaughan provided a high quality of dentistry for his patients and was so respected and loved. The expansion of our office to East Hampton was a win-win situation for both offices.”

Recently, Dr. Ryan Rhodes was added to the team. Dr. French has been well acquainted with him for over two decades. “Dr. Jobe and I had our eye on him since he showed interest in becoming a dentist. I always kept in contact with him while he was away at school and at his general practice residency. We were just waiting for him to come home. He has been a perfect fit with our East Hampton office,” French said.

Dr. Rhodes was raised in and now resides in East Hampton. “I had always intended on returning to the East End and I’m very grateful. NYU Dental School was an amazing experience,” Rhodes said. He’s a member of the American Dental Association, New York State Dental Association, and Suffolk County Dental Society, furthers his education through classes, and meets with a study group of dental specialists on the East End throughout the year.

Rhodes admits to having his own fears related to visiting the dentist in his early 20s, but his own dentist eased him through each time. “The feeling I had when I regained my smile was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Dentistry provided me with the confidence to smile again and I wanted to help people achieve that same feeling,” he said.

East End Family Dentistry’s services include bonding, cosmetic contouring, cosmetic fillings, cosmetic dentistry, extractions, root canal therapy, sealants, veneers, and Invisalign.

For 14 years. Dr. Jobe has used Invisalign as an integral part of his practice. The brand corrects teeth overcrowding, closes spaces, and improves esthetics without the use of wires, brackets, drills, or shots. “Invisalign has been one of the most rewarding standards of care I have provided to my patients,” he noted.

East End Family Dentistry is located at 26 Gingerbread Lane in East Hampton. See more at www.eastendfamilydentistry.com.

nicole@indyeastend.com