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Does the thought of a dental drill make you want to flinch, even if you’re miles from your nearest dental office? If you’re cringing just thinking about it, you’re not alone; a sizable percentage of people feel at least a little anxiety when it’s time to go to the dentist.
The good news is that if you are like most nervous patients, a bit of preparation can make things much easier for you. Read on for some suggestions on how to get over a mild dental phobia with a minimum of stress.
Identify What You Are Afraid Of
Not everyone who is afraid of the dentist is fearful of the same things. Some people tend to hyperventilate at the thought of having hands and instruments in their mouths, while others are afraid of experiencing pain. Many fear the loss of control over the situation because it’s difficult to speak when you have your mouth open. Others have a sensitive gag reflex and are afraid of that.
It will be difficult to talk yourself through your fears if you aren’t sure what they are. If you can’t put your finger on it, try mentally going through a dental visit and make note of what parts of the visit make you feel frightened or upset. This might give you some clues as to what your specific fears are.
Discuss Your Fears With the Dental Staff
Everyone from the receptionist who greets you and the assistant who seats you, to the hygienist who cleans your teeth and the dentist who fills your cavities, can help you to feel more secure and comfortable. Don’t be afraid to tell the person who answers the telephone that you are anxious; he or she can make a note of it. Reiterate your nervousness to the assistant and each professional who comes into your room. If they don’t know that you’re afraid, they won’t know to take steps to help you through your fears.
Come Up With Coping Strategies
Some patients with dental phobias would prefer to get as much work done as possible at once in order to have fewer visits, while others would rather come in more often but for shorter appointments. Most nervous patients (and even many not-nervous patients) like to have a signal for the dentist to stop what he or she is doing if the patient needs a break. Still, others feel better with a friend or relative in the room, or if they can listen to music.
If you can think of something that will help you feel more secure, then go ahead and try it! If it’s something unconventional run it by your dentist first; your dentist wants you to be comfortable and will usually be able to make accommodations for fearful patients to reduce their anxiety levels.
See the Dentist Regularly
Making (and keeping!) regular appointments accomplishes two things: First, it helps you to get used to the office, the noises, the smells, and the people. This alone can reduce your stress level. The second is that it allows your dentist to treat any problems that come up while they are still small and relatively easy to fix. Having a small cavity filled is easier on you than having a root canal and crown, but if you neglect to have that little cavity taken care of, then in a matter of months, it could turn into a much bigger problem requiring more extensive treatment.
If you are nervous or have a full-blown dental phobia, give us a call. We will be happy to work with you so that you can get the care you need.
