Dental anxiety can be incredibly stressful. But because dental hygiene and regular checkups are so critical to your health and well-being, it’s important to learn how to manage the fear of visits and procedures. Follow these six simple tips to conquer your dental anxiety.
Bring music
A great way to ease your dental anxiety is to bring your favorite tunes to your next appointment. Not only will familiar sounds help calm you down -- they will also drown out the jarring sounds of dental equipment in use. Even better? Use noise-cancelling headphones to really get in the zone.
Time your appointment prudently
Pick a time when you’ll likely be the least stressed. When it comes to overcoming dental anxiety, timing plays a big part -- and you don’t want to book an appointment when you’re rushing around for work, have looming commitments later that day or generally have a busy calendar. You might even want to schedule your dental appointment either first thing in the morning (“Let’s just get it over with”) or later in the day (“I can go home and relax afterward”) -- depending on how you typically manage stress.
Take breaks and voice your fears ahead of time
It’s perfectly acceptable to ask your dentist or prosthodontist to pause so you can recharge and continue the checkup or procedure. Just be sure to communicate when you need to stop. Use hand signals to tell your dentist it’s time to pause -- but make sure you inform your dentist or dental hygienist ahead of time that you struggle with this anxiety. If you feel comfortable taking a break or two during your appointment, remember to breathe deeply and slowly, and maybe listen to a meditation or calming music. It’s also wise do those things just before your appointment to mentally prepare.
Bring someone along
A great way to face dental anxiety is to have company! It can be scary -- between the noises of dental tools and the brief pain from numbing injections or corrective procedures -- but if you bring someone with you to your appointment, you have support and a sense of safety from a familiar face.
Take necessary measures to reduce your discomfort
Sometimes, it’s the little things that will help you overcome petrifying dental anxiety. For instance, you should consider what you eat before you get there; eating foods high in protein -- rather than sugar or carbs -- will help you avoid feeling wired and nervous. Or, if you prefer sitting upright during the procedure (rather than tilted back), just ask beforehand if they can accommodate your request. Or perhaps you’d like the dental professional working with you to give you notice when they’re about to do something (e.g., “OK, Matt, I’m about to use the __ tool in order to _____” or “You’ll just feel a small tingling sensation here in a second and it’ll be over quickly.”).
When you have a dental visit or procedure, it’s all about comfort and familiarity -- and going to the dentist isn’t typically known for either of those things. That’s why you might have to take things into your own hands, at your own pace -- be vocal, find ways to relax and remember it will be over before you know it! If you follow the above tips, you will gradually be able to overcome your dental anxiety.
Need a trustworthy Scottsdale prosthodontist? Contact Dr. Bleeker today.