The mere thought of a dental appointment can send shivers down the spines of many people. Dental anxiety, a fear of dental procedures, is a common concern affecting millions of individuals. It should allow you to receive the crucial dental care you need for a healthy smile and overall well-being.
In this blog post, Bayswater dentist will help you explore effective strategies for managing dental anxiety before, during, and after your appointments.
Understanding Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety can manifest in various ways, including:
Fear of pain: The potential for discomfort during procedures can be a major source of anxiety.
Fear of needles: Injections for anesthesia can trigger anxiety in some patients.
Loss of control: Feeling powerless during a dental procedure can be unnerving.
Claustrophobia: The confined space of the dental chair can be uncomfortable for some.
Embarrassment about oral health: Concerns about the condition of your teeth may contribute to anxiety.
Pre-Appointment Strategies
Preparation is key to managing dental anxiety. Here are some steps you can take before your appointment:
Choose the Right Dentist: Look for a dentist Boronia who understands and addresses dental anxiety. Contact us for gentle dental care.
Communicate Your Anxiety: Don’t hesitate to inform our dentist about your anxiety level during the initial consultation or when scheduling your appointment.
Ask Questions: Understanding the procedure beforehand can alleviate anxiety. Ask our dentist about the steps involved, the instruments used, and any potential discomfort.
Schedule Early Morning Appointments: Starting your day with the appointment might help you avoid dwelling on your anxiety throughout the day.
Practice Relaxation Techniques: Deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation can help calm your nerves before the appointment.
Distraction Techniques: Bring headphones and listen to soothing music, audiobooks, or podcasts during the appointment to distract yourself from the sounds and sensations.
During Your Appointment
Once you’re in the dental chair, these strategies can help manage your anxiety:
Communicate Continuously: Let our dentist know if you feel any discomfort or anxiety throughout the procedure. They can adjust their approach or take breaks as needed.
Signal System: Agree on a pre-arranged hand signal with our dentist, like raising your hand, to indicate the need for a pause or a break.
Focus on Relaxation Techniques: Practice deep breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation to calm your nerves.
Visualize a Relaxing Scene: Imagine yourself in a calming environment, like a peaceful beach or a quiet forest, to distract yourself from the present situation.
Focus on the Benefits: Remind yourself of the positive outcomes of the dental procedure, such as improved oral health and a brighter smile.
Post-Appointment Strategies
After your successful appointment, celebrate your accomplishment! Here are some ways to maintain momentum and manage anxiety for future visits:
Positive Reinforcement: Reward yourself for overcoming your anxiety and completing the appointment.
Schedule Regular Checkups: Routine visits can help prevent major problems and reduce the need for more complex procedures in the future, which can contribute to anxiety.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene: Daily brushing, flossing, and a healthy diet can minimize the need for extensive dental work and reduce anxiety about future appointments.
Consider Sedation Dentistry: If your dental anxiety is severe, our dentist may recommend sedation dentistry oral medication to help you feel more relaxed during the procedure.
By putting these tips into practice, you can turn your dental appointments from stressful experiences into manageable steps toward a healthy and confident smile!
The dentist isn’t someone that everyone raves about seeing. While we all want that amazing smile and know that oral health is important, going to the dentist can cause some severe anxiety. As a dentist in Boronia, we would like to go over some of the reasons for anxiety and hopefully offer some advice that will assist with it as well. While we know we have to see the dentist, sometimes, the anxiety can be overwhelming for a variety of reasons. Let’s take a look at some of them.
1-Embarrassment
Whoever you choose to be your dentist, you shouldn’t have to be embarrassed, no matter what state your teeth are in. Maybe you were never taught proper oral care and didn’t see a dentist as a child but now, you want to change that. However, you have anxiety because they are so bad. You need to find a dentist that is sensitive to this. Whatever the reasoning is that got you here, crawling into a dental chair is the very best thing you can do. Did you know that your oral health will affect your overall health? You don’t want to let your health go, call a dentist today and explain your situation.
2-Hate needles
There is a huge fear of needles. But, if you find the right dentist they will inject you in a manner that you won’t even know that they are doing so. Most dentists know this trick, but fail to use it. Giving an injection slowly with some local numbing cream can make the needle experience a lot better. Be sure that you speak with the dentist about this fear, so they can take some extra precautions with you.
3-The smells and sounds
The smells are actually a lot better than they were in previous years. If the dentist is using the near bonding agents and fillers. Typically only when a temporary bonding agent is used, will you have that dental smell. You will know as soon as your visit is a dentist if they use old or the newer version. You could also ask. Some dentists will do their best to avoid the smelly chemicals that people get nervous about. You should ask before you make an appointment. If you are given any grief over the phone for asking, you should move on to find a different clinic.
For the sounds, you might try a nice set of headphones to drown people and sounds out. However, you should alert the dentist that you are wearing them, as they might not realize it and be asking you questions.
4-You fear the cost of it all
Speaking to the dental clinic will help calm this fear. You don’t have to decide at your very first visit what dental work you can afford. You can ask them what treatments they feel you need and the costs associated with them. This will empower you with knowledge. Knowing how much it will cost, will allow you to be more prepared. The fear of the unknown is what is driving your anxiety, most likely. So, be sure that you are very upfront and clear about your financial situation.
5-The tastes
Some people cannot stand the smell or taste of toothpaste. It can be so bad, that they have to fight their way to brush their teeth each and every time. Perhaps it is associated with some sort of trauma or child abuse. There are many reasons why people have a hard time brushing their teeth, however, if you’re one of them, discuss this with your dentist. There are many different flavors of toothpaste out there. While mint is the most common, there are children’s kinds of toothpaste that are fruity. You might find these more tolerable. But, when speaking to your family dentist in Boronia and hygienist about this, they can suggest some options for you.
There are a number of reasons why people have dental anxiety. Speaking with your dentist, they can determine what course of action would be best for you. Some will also offer prescription medication or gas that will relax you a bit. This medication can be taken just before your appointment to ensure that you are more relaxed and comfortable. The gas can be given in the clinic and you will feel normal as soon as it is taken away. These are great options for those that have a bit of trouble seeing their family dentist in Boronia.
Fear of the dentist is very real for many people. In fact, there are very few people that don’t have some fear of going to the dentist. However, we all know we need to go, but how to get over that fear? Let’s take a look.
Admit that you have a fear.
Talking about our fears with our loved ones helps. Many times people want to simply avoid the dentist all together than to face their fears. However, we all know that is not good oral hygiene practice. Instead, you need to face your fears and talk about it. Don’t simply avoid the dentist, talk about it, and come up with some things that might help. You can even have a discussion with your dentist Boronia. Dentists deal with this all the time. They will have some ideas for you. Also, they may let you take breaks if you need to. This is a sign of a good dentist that understands and cares about their patients.
Maybe bringing someone with you that isn’t afraid of the dentist is a good plan as well. Having someone there to keep you calm and drive you home can really help. Perhaps make plans for after the dentist. Many times we cannot eat or drink right after seeing a dentist, but perhaps stop at a flower shop or go for a walk, something you like to do too. This will give you something to look forward to and a bit of a treat for getting through your appointment.
Perhaps it is the idea of all those poking instruments going into your mouth. The tray of unknown tools laying there looking as if they want to tear your mouth apart brings on the anxiety. Talk to your dentist’s office and they might be up for letting you have a bit of a meet and greet with the unfamiliar tools. This can really help with children for example. They have never seen all that stuff and can really get overwhelmed with it all. Also, if you have never been to a dentist, the tool fear can be very real.
Take some precautions for your upcoming anxiety
Dentists these days have all kinds of various techniques and ways that will allow you to be more comfortable. Simple things such as nose strips will allow you to breathe easier when they are working in your mouth, should you have issues. There are also medications that you can take before your appointment. Speak with your dentist and determine what is the best course of action for you.
Take the time to get to know your dentist for a minute. This can also help with fears. Ask questions and go in slowly to the whole idea. Maybe you can have a meet and greet with the dentist and get to know them a little bit more to feel a little more comfortable.
There are many relaxation techniques that you can use as well. Meditations, pray, and breathing techniques for example can calm you.
Fear is real, but with a little help, you can and will get through this.
