Creative Commons image by Matt & Mandy (Flickr).
Do you feel nervous in the dental chair? You might be surprised to know that approximately 20% of people have some dental anxiety, and that for a small percentage, perhaps 8%, their fear is enough to keep them out of the dental chair altogether, unless there is a real dental emergency. Avoiding the dentist can lead to bigger problems, of course, and even if you are only mildly anxious, this can add stress to your life that you don’t need. Here are some ways to deal with dental anxiety so you can feel calmer and more in control while getting the dental care you need.
Talk to Your Dentist
Your dentist and the office staff won’t know that you are fearful unless you tell them. Once you do tell them, they will be extra mindful of making sure that they explain what’s happening and take things slowly. If you are seeing a new dentist, let the receptionist know that you have some dental anxiety. Once you arrive, tell the hygienist or assistant who brings you to the room, and also tell the dentist (who will likely already have seen the notation on your chart). Just the act of telling the staff that you have some anxiety can lessen it, and it will help them do their jobs better.
Plan to Be Distracted
If you have mild anxiety, distraction might be enough to help you overcome it. Bring your earbuds and plan to listen to a podcast or some good music. You could also get an audio book and listen to that while you have your teeth cleaned or cavities filled. In addition to occupying your mind, using music or a podcast will help block out potentially anxiety-causing noises like the dental handpiece whirring.
Try to Put Your Finger on It
Do you know what bothers you the most about being at the dentist? You might find the chair uncomfortable or you might be afraid that you’ll choke. Small measures like bringing a lumbar support cushion or asking the dentist if you can hold the saliva ejector suction so you can use it at will can help you feel more at ease. If you are worried that you will have pain, ask what signal you can use to tell the dentist if something hurts. If you are afraid of the needle that you get before a filling, find out whether laughing gas can be given in place of or in addition to novocaine.
Consider Medication
If nothing else is helping you feel more at-ease in the dental chair, find out whether a light sedation would be appropriate for you. This can run the gamut from oral medications used to relax you to IV sedation in more severe cases or if a lot of work needs to be done. Your dentist will be able to go over your options with you.
Combating dental anxiety can help you to have better oral health overall, and it will also make your appointments less stressful. Talk to your dentist about what can be done to help you feel calmer in the chair.
