Dealing with Dental Anxiety related to seeing the dentist is extremely common, for some, the fear is full blown Dental Phobia.
In the US, as many as 20% of people avoid going to the dentist because of this fear.
However, failing to visit the dentist can lead to problems going unchecked. These in turn can have an impact even beyond oral health. Gum problems, for instance, have been linked with diabetes and other medical conditions.
Admittedly, knowing that oral health issues can have a wider health impact might not alleviate your anxiety so here are seven things that may.
1. Don’t Be Embarrassed, You Are Not Alone
If you have not been to the dentist for a while (months or years), you will not be met with disapproval and given the feeling that you are being judged. The opposite is more likely, if we are aware that you are having a first appointment in years our team will try to make the experience a positive one.
At Prime Dental, it is our professional privilege to look after your oral health and help you get back on track to proper dental care. There are many people who go years without seeing a dentist and hygienist, be it due to fear, a busy lifestyle or even moving and never getting around to finding a new dentist.
2. Don’t Hide Your Fear Of The Dentist
If you suffer from anxiety or dental phobia, just booking an appointment and showing up is an achievement, you don’t need to mask your anxiety and pretend everything is fine. Tell our staff at Prime Dental that you are nervous and talk through any specific concerns. Is pain a major concern? If so, numbing agents can be used, also local anesthetic. Perhaps you have had negative dental experiences in the past. The more we know, the better placed we are to make sure your visit is comfortable. You can also agree a signal to let the dentist or hygienist know that you are starting to feel uncomfortable, for instance raising a hand during treatment or examination might be a sign that you need a break.
3. Think What Might Help Reduce Your Dental Anxiety
What little changes can the dental practice make to help put you at ease? Would playing calming music help, or maybe watching something on our big screen TV’s? We have had patients who like to listen to music, or watch their favorite movie or TV series– focusing on something else may help take their mind off the dental appointment. What about some relaxing fragrances, would that help as well? At Prime Dental, small accommodations can make appointments far less of a challenge for anxious patients, our dentists are both accommodating and also able to suggest different ways that can help put you at ease.
4. Remember, The First Dental Appointment Will Just Be A Check-Up
Any patient with anxiety and who might not have seen a dentist in years might build up a visit into a nightmare scenario which will result in them requiring major treatment there and then. This will not be the reality. Instead, the first check-up will be just that, a chance to check the state of your teeth and gums and discuss the best treatment options before going ahead with them. You can also see this first appointment as a chance to get to know your dentist or hygienist, they should put you at ease and make future visits feel far more manageable.
5. Choose A Time That Reduces Dental Anxiety
An appointment at the start of the day may reduce anxiety – if, for example, you are seen at 9 am then it is done by 9:30 am and there is no more anxiety to dominate the rest of the day. This is maybe preferable to an appointment at later in the day, where anxiety has time to grow and the worry can impinge on the rest of the day’s tasks or lead you to cancel the appointment you have made. Alternatively, perhaps you want an appointment at the end of your working day so that you don’t feel rushed getting back to work or other commitments. Make the appointment time work for you. It might also be worth booking an appointment as soon as possible. If you have chosen a promising dental practice and they have an appointment in the next couple of days, why not choose the soonest and get it out of the way, rather than having it in the future, which may only increase you stress.
6. Establish A Regular Dental Pattern From A Young Age
For children it is advisable to start seeing a dentist with their family around their first birthday and to maintain regular check-ups so that going to the dentist never feels like a big deal; it is simply something that forms part of their lives. Even in adulthood this advice holds value, the hardest appointment for anyone who has not been to the dentist in a while is the first one. After that, settle into a pattern, maintain regular check-ups and then you will always know that your oral health is being looked after and appointments will become routine rather than panic inducing.
7. Choose A Dentist And Hygienist You Are Comfortable With
If you are not sure about just choosing a dentist because is close to home or office, you still have many resources. Look at reviews, ask friends and colleagues, even be open when asking for advice, admit you are a nervous patient and see what they say of their dentist’s manner. You can also do research prior to committing to a dentist (or if your current dentist does nothing to reduce anxiety maybe find a new one!). Many sites have information about their methods and a chance to find out about individual members of the team. Any practice should allow you to have a look around prior to committing to an appointment – the aim is to demystify the practice; it is not a scary place full of people in white coats. At Prime Dental, it is a modern, and calm facility with passionate, skilled and friendly professionals.
