Do you feel nervous about going to your dentist’s office? You are not alone: more than 20% of adult patients experience dental fear. Some people may feel enough anxiety that they are tempted to skip routine dental work.
But without preventative care from your dentist, you could face a higher risk of a dental emergency, which might involve more intensive and stressful treatment to restore your smile. Fortunately, modern dentistry prioritizes patient comfort. Your dentist will want to make your experience in their care as easy and positive as possible.
Then, your smile can look and feel its best without distress. Take measures to combat dental fear before your next dentist appointment. And read on to find advice from your dentist that can help you feel more comfortable in the dental chair.
Discuss Your Treatment with Your Dentist
Your dentist will not know to assist you with dental anxiety if you do not communicate your worries to them. It is crucial to maintain open communication with your dentist about your oral health as well as your questions and concerns in order for your dental work to go as smoothly and positively as possible.
This communication will work both ways. Your dentist will keep you informed about the dental procedures and what will occur during each step. Knowing what will happen ahead of time can help you feel calmer during the dental work itself.
The dentist will be happy to answer any questions you may have. And if you feel more comfortable not knowing details about your dental work, tell the dentist as well. They can work with you no matter your preferences. And this can suit routine cleanings as well as more extensive restorative solutions.
The dentist can provide additional advice about feeling calmer and more relaxed during a dental check-up or other type of procedure. Feel free to ask them for tips. They may recommend medical solutions to induce a calm sensation during dental work for especially nervous patients.
Practice Mindfulness Before Your Appointment
If you know that you feel nervous before a dental appointment, you can acknowledge these feelings and prepare yourself accordingly. Mindfulness exercises may minimize the debilitating and overwhelming sentiments to enhance your experience at the dentist’s office.
Deep breathing before your appointment can make you feel calmer. But you can also take more preparative actions to reduce your stress at the office. For instance, arrive at the practice early enough to check in without complications but not so soon that you spend a great amount of time sitting and building nervousness in the waiting room.
You can also bring music and headphones with you to your appointment to make you happier and more at ease during the dental work. Your dentist has training and experience working with patients of all ages, including children. They can apply their know-how about calming young patients to their adult ones. So you can feel confident in their capable hands.