Do you or your child have a fear of the dentist? If so, you’re not alone. Did you know that one-third (36%) of people have dental anxiety?
Severe dental anxiety affects 1 in 10 (12%) of people from going to the dentist at all! However, skipping the dentist entirely can lead to major health concerns.
Poor dental hygiene is linked to serious chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, and increased risk for stroke. It’s essential to find a way to cope with your dental anxiety for a healthy, productive life.
If you’ve had issues with dental anxiety in the past, we understand. Many people fear the dentist. Read on for ten tips to effectively manage your dental anxiety and put your fears behind you.
1. Research Dentists in Your Area
While not all dental practices cater to people with dental phobias, some do. Do your research before selecting a dental practice in your area.
Look for dentists that specialize in helping patients overcome their dental phobias. With their help, they can help you get back to healthy dental practices, including:
- Regular dental visits
- Regular cleaning
- Oral care and maintenance
There are plenty of dental practices that empathize with dental anxiety and take steps towards helping people cope with their dental fears. By doing your research, finding the right dental practice for you, and getting to know a little about them online, you’ll go a long way towards managing your dental anxiety. We recommend Newstead Dental Co.
2. Distraction Is a Great Equalizer
When you’re sitting in the dental chair, your mind can rush to all the things that scare you about going to the dentist. Even if you’re at a dental practice that caters to people with dental phobias, it can still sometimes be a struggle.
Therefore, find a dental practice that incorporates distraction as part of their dental visit routine. For example, they may offer some of the following:
- Television to watch while you’re in the chair
- Warm blankets to soothe you
- Relaxing music to help keep you calm
- Sunglasses to dim the bright lights
While these distractions seem small, they can be beneficial when you’re in the chair and dealing with anxiety.
3. Bring a Friend
Everyone has that friend who is down to help you move forward in your life. So call them up and have them help you get over your “fear the dentist” syndrome.
Having a friend nearby who can help talk you down when your anxiety is high is crucial for your first visit. In addition, a good first visit can lead to other visits, which is beneficial for your oral health.
They can hold your hand during a difficult part of the dental visit or talk to you to keep you calm and distracted.
Your dental co-pilot could be a:
- close friend
- family member
- parent
It may seem silly to bring a friend as an adult, but getting over the hurdle of your first visit is everything. So don’t let pride stop you from overcoming your dental anxieties.
4. Get There On Time, but Not Too Early
It’s not good for your anxiety to get rushed into the chair. So make a point to get to your dental visit on time, but not too early. You want to have enough time not to feel rushed.
It will also allow you the time to talk yourself down if you’re anxious. If you’ve brought a friend, they can help. So, don’t arrive too early, as this can be to your detriment.
More time means more time to think, and thinking isn’t exactly the best thing if you’re prone to dental anxiety. So arrive on time, but don’t get there too early.
Use strategies like:
- Deep breathing
- Reframing your fears
- Talking to a friend to quell anxiety
- Read a magazine or a book to distract yourself
These strategies can help manage your dental anxieties as you wait for your dental appointment.
5. Use Coping Strategies for Anxiety
Dental anxiety has the same physical and psychological symptoms as generalized anxiety. That means you can use coping techniques for anxiety to cope with many reasons you fear the dentist.
These techniques that can be helpful to use before (or during) your visit:
- 4-7-8 Breathing – breathe in for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, breath out slowly for eight seconds
- Question Your Negative Thoughts – find ways to reframe your negative thoughts by questioning their validity
- Aroma Therapy – bring a handkerchief with essential oils to breathe in while you’re feeling anxious
Using one or all of these anxiety coping strategies can help you get through your dental appointment.
6. Consider Sedation Options
Many dentists offer sedation options to help the dental visit run more smoothly for you. You can ask your dentist ahead of time what type of sedation techniques they offer for dental anxiety.
Some of the possible sedation options could be:
- Nitrous Oxide, or “laughing gas”
- Propofol
- Ketamine
- Dexmedetomidine
These are all referred to as conscious sedation. They help manage pain and anxieties associated with dental visits. If your procedure is complicated, you may receive anesthesia to sleep through the dental visit.
Using sedation can be a quick way to help manage your dental anxiety to get through difficult dental procedures or a regular dental visit.
7. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Let’s face it! Dentists are not mind readers. Therefore, it’s important to ask questions when you’re feeling unsure about a dental procedure.
We understand that with anxiety, people can sometimes become tongue-tied. In that case, create a sign for your friend that lets them know you’re anxious and need to ask a question. That will buy you some time to learn more about the procedure before it’s too late.
If you don’t have a friend with you, raise your hand. It’s the universal sign that you have a question. Here is a list of a few questions you may want to practice:
- What’s involved in this part of the procedure?
- What tools will you be using?
- What should I know before the procedure?
- How long with this part of the procedure take?
Being armed with some questions that you’ve practiced ahead of time will make it easier for you to ask questions when parts of your dental visit make you feel anxious.
8. Don’t Become a Martyr
Sometimes people are so afraid of the dentist that they become a martyr when it comes to pain in the chair. But, believe it or not, pain-free dental care is real.
The job of any good dentist is to make sure you have the most pain-free experience possible. But, if you feel that that’s not the case, use your voice and speak up when something hurts.
Dentists need your assistance to make it a great experience for you.
9. Don’t Be Afraid to Take Breaks
It’s critical that you feel comfortable with your dentist. If you’re feeling overly anxious, ask for a break. If you’re working with a dentist that treats patients with dental anxiety, they will understand.
A sensitive dental practice will stop when you ask. So when calling around for dentists, it’s important to make this a question that you ask. Do you offer patients a break if they’re dealing with dental anxiety?
If they say no, they aren’t the dentist for you. Move on to another one.
Sometimes you may only need a second to collect yourself. Other times, you may need a moment. Be sure to be upfront with your dentist to let them know what type of break you may need.
10. Make Sure to Schedule Your Next Appointment Before You Leave the Office
While this seems like a scary thing to commit to, it’s essential to your oral care. If you’ve had a good experience with your dentist, make a point to schedule your next appointment before you leave the office.
If you have an appointment booked, you’ll be less likely to find a reason not to go. If you don’t schedule an appointment, it will be easier to push it back for “another day.”
Schedule your appointment, and you’ll be taking a great first step in your dental anxiety.
Follow These Tips to Finally Overcome “Fear the Dentist” Syndrome
If you fear the dentist, the first step is recognizing it’s an issue. After that, it’s all about how you manage and cope with your issue. Using these tips will help you manage and cope with your dental anxiety.
If you or a loved one is dealing with dental anxiety, use the steps provided in this article to help you find practical ways to manage it.
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