Do you experience anxiety when having to visit your dentist? If so, continue reading our blog. We hope to help ease your fears at your next dental visit.
If you’re experiencing anxiety when thinking about an upcoming dental appointment, then you are definitely not alone. This post will explain modern dental clinics, how to prepare for a dental visit, and what to do when you are at a dental clinic in the hopes to make it a calmer experience for you.
One of the main causes of dental anxiety is a traumatic past experience. This might be in the form of a failed pain reliever, a not so friendly dentist, or an unpleasant reaction from your parents.
Some of the common fears people have about going to the dentist include:
- Needles
- The drill and the sound of the drill
- Receiving bad news
- Pain
- Having bad breath
With improvements in dental technology, many of the fears are unfounded these days. For example, needles have got a lot thinner and less painful, and there are also creams that can be applied beforehand to numb the area, which greatly reduces any stinging.
Avoiding the dentist due to fear and anxiety does not change the fact that delaying dental check-ups and minor dental procedures only increases the chances of more serious dental work becoming a reality.
Below we have listed a few ideas and tips on how to best prepare before a dental appointment when experiencing anxiety.
- Plan something nice to do after your dental appointment, something you can look forward to.
- Make your appointment as early as possible as well as schedule your arrival to be on time, but not too early.
- Book you appointment with a dentist that is empathetic and that may make you feel more comfortable.
- Some people might like to bring along a loved one that will be there for them in support.
Here we have also added some tips of things you can do when you are at the dentist to lower your anxiety levels.
- Bring a book or a magazine you like to read while you wait for you appointment.
- Communicate your anxieties with the staff. They are used to dealing with patients that are worried about seeing a dentist and they can help you feel more at ease.
- Ask questions of your dentist and let him or her know about your fears too.
- Take breaks during a procedure. Let your dentist know about this strategy and rest periods can be planned in the procedure.
- Choose a dentist that has in chair entertainment, such as television or music channels.
- Agree hand signals with your dentist to let them know how you are feeling.
Pain free dentistry is a true reality these days. You don’t need to suffer, and by completing one dental visit you may find that a trip to the dentist is by no means as scary as you thought, or anything like it was when you were a child.
We also encourage parents not to pass their fears on to their children. These days dental anxiety is more common in adults than in children. Letting your kids have their own experience and talking honestly and openly with them about dentistry is often the best way to keep children stress free about dentists.
If you have any more questions about visiting your dentist, then feel free to give us a call. Our staff can answer any questions you have and would enjoy the chance to make your next visit to the dentist more peaceful and comfortable.