09 Jul

Overcoming Dentist Anxiety

There are many reasons people avoid going to the dentist, including fear of needles. In our last blog post, we did our best to alleviate that concern by introducing current technologies that enable needle-free application of anesthetics. In this post, we’d like to make some suggestions for overcoming dental anxieties. We’re Lifetime Family Dental in Gilbert, AZ, and we do our best to be known as a gentle dental office that you can feel good about coming to visit.

You’re Not Alone

If you get anxious about dental visits, you’re not alone. Fifty percent of Americans are with you in that category. Let’s talk about some ways to quell those worries, and give you the courage to pick up the phone and make that biannual cleaning and checkup appointment that is so important for your dental health and for your overall health.

First, if it’s been awhile since you’ve visited the dentist, we’d like to assure you that technology has made incredible strides toward taking the pain out of a patient’s experience. New procedures and newer tools and instruments have been established and made with you in mind, in order to help ease patient discomfort.

Here are a few additional thoughts on calming those anxieties:

—A dentist’s demeanor makes all the difference. If your dentist doesn’t make you feel cared for, listened to, and well-informed, you probably need to find a new dentist. A dentist should communicate clearly, and their manner should make you feel safe.

—Even after a dentist has clearly explained options to you and begun a specific treatment, if you still have questions or hesitations about what is occurring, stop and ask. Being informed may be all that’s needed to calm your mind.

—Discuss your fears with your dentist. Being aware of your needs can help them better understand you and make them your partner in helping to allay those fears.

—If your dentist has T.V. monitors, ask to watch television during a procedure. Taking your mind off the activity at hand by watching a lighthearted show or movie might be just what you need to forget those anxieties.

—Or, before you go to your dental appointment, download your favorite audiobook or podcast to your cell phone. Listening to a funny novel or favorite Ted Talk is a healthy distraction that gives you something positive to think about and keeps you from focusing on anxious thoughts. If music is your preference, choose your favorite album and turn up the sound!

 

Dental fears can range from feeling embarrassed about your teeth, to hating the sound of the drill, or fear of choking. If you’ve got anxiety for whatever reason and you live in our region, we want to encourage you to reach out and call us for an appointment. We’re a gentle dental office, and we’ll do our best to help you feel safe about visiting the dentist. Here’s a video about our Lifetime Family Dental office. If you have further questions, feel free to contact our staff at 480-558-4331, or by visiting our website.

 

 

Images used under creative commons license – Commercial Use (6/29/18) Mohamed Hassan, Pixabay