The Wand in Bacchus Marsh, for people who tense up at the sight of a syringe.
The Wand is a computer-controlled system that delivers local anaesthetic at a slow, steady rate through a pen-like handpiece. For many people the injection, not the treatment, is the hardest part of a visit. The Wand still uses a fine needle, and we won't pretend otherwise, but the way the anaesthetic reaches you feels different. Our Bacchus Marsh dentists can use it for most treatments that need numbing.
It's rarely the drill people dread. It's the injection before it.
Fear of needles is common, and it isn't always obvious. Sometimes it's just a tighter grip on the armrest. Putting care off is common too: in the ABS Patient Experience Survey 2024–25, a quarter of people (25%) who needed to see a dental professional delayed or skipped a visit at least once in the previous 12 months. Delay has a cost, because adults who usually saw a dentist for a problem were nearly twice as likely to have untreated decay as those who went for check-ups (44% compared with 24%), according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. You might recognise some of these.
- Watching the tray instead of the dentist, waiting for what comes next.
- Asking for the injection to "just get it over with" before anything else.
- A child who doesn't want "the needle", however gently it's explained.
- Putting off a check-up or filling mainly because of the numbing step.
- Remembering an injection that felt like a rush of pressure, and not wanting that again.
So what is The Wand?
With a traditional syringe, the dentist controls the speed and pressure of the injection by hand. A fast flow of anaesthetic into the gum can cause a feeling of pressure, which is part of what makes some people nervous. Victoria's Better Health Channel (reviewed October 2025) names needles, drills and the dental setting as things that can trigger dental anxiety. With The Wand, a computer regulates the flow and pressure instead, releasing the anaesthetic slowly and evenly through a light, pen-like handpiece.
To be clear, The Wand still uses a fine needle, and it uses the same anaesthetic medicines as a traditional injection. What changes is the delivery: steadier and more even, from a handpiece held like a pen rather than gripped like a syringe. Many needle-anxious patients and children find that difference helps.
Why it's designed to feel calmer.
- A steady flow instead of a manual push. The computer keeps the rate constant from start to finish, which aims to reduce the pressure and stretching of the tissue.
- A different shape to see and hold. The slim, pen-like handpiece looks less like a syringe, which some people find easier to cope with.
- Precise placement. It lets your dentist place anaesthetic more precisely, which helps in sensitive or hard-to-reach areas and can sometimes mean less numbness in the lip and cheek.
The Wand still involves a needle and an injection. Comfort differs from person to person, and whether it suits you depends on the treatment and your health, which we'll always check with you first.
Is it worth asking about for you?
The Wand isn't needed at every appointment. Here's a straightforward guide to when to ask about it.
The Wand is part of our everyday general dentistry in Bacchus Marsh, alongside the rest of the care we provide.
Worth asking about if...
- Needles make you tense before anything has even happened.
- You're bringing a child who is nervous about "the needle".
- A past injection felt uncomfortable and has stayed with you.
- You've avoided appointments mainly because of the injection.
May not make much difference if...
- Injections have never really bothered you.
- Your treatment doesn't need local anaesthetic.
- You're mainly after the quickest appointment. The Wand takes about as long as a traditional injection.
Where The Wand can be used.
It can be used for most procedures that need local anaesthetic, including fillings, crown preparation, root canal treatment, extractions and deep cleaning. A few examples:
Not every appointment needs local anaesthetic, and for some procedures a traditional injection may still be preferred. Your dentist will confirm what suits your treatment at your visit.
What happens at your appointment.
Tell us about the nerves
If needles are a problem for you or your child, say so when you book. It changes how we run the whole appointment, not just which tool we use.
Checking it suits your treatment
We confirm The Wand is appropriate for your procedure and ask about any allergies to anaesthetic or other medical conditions.
The numbing step
The computer delivers the anaesthetic slowly and steadily through the handpiece while we tell you what's happening.
Then your treatment
When you're ready, we move on to the treatment itself, whether that's a filling, an extraction or whatever brought you in.
Needle nerves taken seriously.
Listened to, not brushed aside
If injections are the hard part for you, we plan your appointment around that. It's a real conversation, not an afterthought.
Honest about what changes
We won't say there's no needle when there is. We'll explain exactly what's different about the delivery, and you decide.
For every age in the family
From a child's first filling to an adult who has never liked needles, The Wand can be discussed wherever it's appropriate.
The Wand questions, answered.
Nervous about an upcoming appointment?
Tell us when you book, or call first. We're happy to talk through The Wand and our other comfort options before you commit to anything.
Book a consultation (03) 8001 7008Bacchus Marsh Clinic
Information on this page is general in nature. The Wand still involves a needle and an injection. Comfort and suitability differ between individuals, and we'll confirm what's appropriate for you and your treatment before going ahead.
Major health funds
Let's make your next visit a little calmer.
Whether it's for you or your child, tell our Bacchus Marsh team about the nerves and we'll talk through whether The Wand suits your appointment.