Dental Anxiety: 7 Tips To Calm Your Fears

If the thought of going to the dentist makes your heart race or your palms sweet, you may have dental anxiety also called dental phobia. This may also cause you to lose sleep, have panic attacks, or even cry. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. About 36% of the population have some form of dental anxiety. As many as 13% have extreme dental phobia which prevents them from receiving care at all. The fear may be that going to the dentist will hurt or that the dentist may find something major wrong with your teeth. Although avoiding the dentist will only make things worse, for some the thought of going is something they can’t face. If you suffer from dental anxiety, this list of tips you will help you to address your fear of the dentist and make going to the dentist something you can do with confidence.

Use these seven tips to help you ease your dental anxiety:

Tip #1: Tell your dentist that you have dental phobia

Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to discuss your dental phobia with your dentist or dental team. They are trained to help you with your fears and they want you to feel comfortable at your dental visit. You can always schedule an appointment with your dentist before a procedure to discuss specific concerns that you may have. This will help to reduce your fear of going to the dentist before it starts. For instance, if you have a fear of dentist needles, there may be alternative ways to get your tooth numb. Discussing this beforehand will help to alleviate your fear and reduce your dental anxiety.

Letting your dentist know if your dental anxiety is due to a past negative dental experience is very important. Be specific about the things that you did not like so that your dentist can do everything possible to not repeat that bad experience.

Tip #2: Distract yourself or ask the doctor to talk to you

For some patients who are afraid of the dentist, it helps to distract themselves while at the dentist. At Living Well Dental Group, we encourage you to enjoy our Comfort Menu while having a dental procedure. The Comfort Menu includes things like Netflix, Pandora, neck pillows, blankets, water, and many other options. It’s a great way to take your mind off of your dental procedure. It also helps make the time in the chair go by faster. We also offer free WiFi to our patients, so feel free to bring your own device and enjoy that service.

Tip #3: Ask the doctor to explain the process

Sometimes understanding about the dental procedure you’re having done will help to alleviate any fears you may have. At Living Well Dental Group, we love to talk about dentistry, so please feel free to ask us any questions that you like about your visit either before, during, or after your procedure. We can give you as little or as much detail as you want. We have additional resources such as photos, books and slide shows that can also be helpful.

Tip #4: Meditate

Meditation is a great way to relax your mind during a dental procedure. It reduces stress which has been shown to reduce pain. There are many types of breathing exercises that you can do while sitting in the chair. We can also give you a break during your dental procedure to do some meditation.

Tip #5: Plan your dentist appointment ahead

Planning your dental visit in advance will reduce dental anxiety. If there are certain times of the day or days of the week that make you feel more anxious, schedule your dental visits around them. Pick days and times that you feel your best. Try not to schedule on days that you are really busy or days that you may have something important happening. This can make you feel rushed which will add to your dental anxiety.

Tip #6: Find a dentist who works with anxiety patients near you

Find a dentist that fits your dental and emotional needs. It’s very important that you feel like your dentist is someone that you can talk to about your dental anxieties. You want to make sure that your dentist understands your concerns and is able to help you with your fears. If your fear is more tooth anxiety or that you think there may be something bad happening with your teeth, then find a dentist who can help you to manage that is best.

Tip #7: Visit your dentist more regularly

Avoiding the dentist will only make things worse. You’ll worry more about your teeth and, in the end, develop more anxiety about visiting the dentist. Regular dental visits will ensure that your teeth stay healthy and help avoid bigger dental emergencies.

It’s important to your teeth and overall health that you get the dental care that you need. Recognizing the symptoms of dental anxiety and using these seven tips to recognize and overcome them will allow you to visit the dentist without dental anxiety.

Do not suffer from dental anxiety on your own. Speak to the caring team at Living Well Dental Group today about ways we can help to take away your dental worries and fears. We will help you get the dental care you need in an environment that specializes in helping you overcome any dental anxieties that you may have. Call (630) 505-1516 today.