How To Overcome Dental Anxiety?

Overcoming Dental Anxiety

If the idea of visiting your dentist sends your teeth chattering, you have plenty of company. In fact, a recent study found that about 8% of Americans avoid going to the dentist altogether due to fear and anxiety. And as many as 20% have sufficient anxiety about visiting their dentist that they only make the trip when absolutely necessary.

Fortunately, dental anxiety can be overcome with a little bit of knowledge and forethought. Here are a few strategies for overcoming your fears.

Admit it's a problem.

Many people make excuses for not visiting the dentist, both to themselves and other people. They may say that they are too busy, they don't like their dentist or the staff, or it is too expensive. But like most things in life, you cannot address a problem until you first admit that it exists.

A good way to begin is by trying to pinpoint when your anxiety originated. Did you have a bad experience with needles? Did you watch a scary movie when you were a child? You cannot overcome a fear until you get to the bottom of it.

Open up about your fears.

Your dental team simply wants you to receive the dental care that you require. It starts by having you visit the office. As mentioned earlier, dental anxiety is an extremely common phenomenon. Your dental team is prepared to help you in any way that we can so that your fears are alleviated.

You can simply mention that you are experiencing anxiety related to your upcoming appointment. We can arrange for you to have a conversation with your dentist prior to your treatment. You can also take part in consultations so that you understand every step of the treatment that you are scheduled to undergo. Knowledge tends to banish fear, so this is very helpful for many patients.

You are in control.

Your dentist and dental team will be frequently explaining what will happen next with your treatment or procedure, including how it will feel. You can even work out a signal beforehand. Whenever you need a break, simply give that signal to let the dentist know that something is provoking your anxiety or fear. Simply knowing that this communication is available is enough for many patients to proceed with their appointment without anxiety.

Use distractions.

The tools used in dentistry, like suction tubes and drills, sometimes unnerve patients. You can wear noise-canceling headphones or earplugs to minimize these frightening sounds. Or you could bring your smart phone or tablet with you and listen to some music while you are being cared for. Things like this can keep your mind off of what is happening, as well as preventing the atmosphere from feeling clinical and cold.

Let Us Hear From You

Aesthetic Dental Center is on your side. We want to go above and beyond to ensure that you are completely comfortable in the safe environment of our dental office whenever you require dental care. If there is anything that we can do to help alleviate the common experience of dental anxiety, please don't hesitate to let us know.