Tips for Calming Your Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety is common and usually makes people avoid dental appointments, which could have negative implications on their oral health. Missing a dental appointment when dealing with oral diseases can prolong the patient’s discomfort and worsen the problem.

Managing dental anxiety

Dentists are familiar with dental anxiety and phobias and have helped many patients. The key is to be completely honest with your dental professional. Patients can easily tell their dentist when they feel uneasy and why. If they cannot express their fears to the dentist, they would be better off with another dental professional. Patients suffering from dental anxiety can take the following steps to fight their fear of dental procedures.

Know the fears to combat them

Fear of the dentist or dental procedure has several origins, and it would be helpful for patients to know precisely what scares them about the visit. It could be the idea of injection for administering anesthesia, or worries that the dentist might be thrown off by the appearance of their dentition. Once the cause of anxiety is known, it will be easier to work on ways to deal with it, often with the dentist’s help.

Listening to music

If headphones and calming music are not available in the dental office, patients can bring along their music player and headphones. If the fear stems from hearing sounds of dental tools and the staff, listening to music during dental treatments can help drown out the noise and provide a soothing effect. The patient should keep the volume at a reasonable level to still be able to listen to the dentist’s directions,

Bring a comfort item

Kids can carry their teddy bears or have their parents around to feel comfortable. For adults, a stress ball or relief item may be enough to keep them relaxed. They could squeeze the ball or rub the stone during their dental appointment.

Meditation

Meditation may also help to deal with dental anxiety and make the dental procedure go a lot more easily. There are powerful meditation apps and websites that can help with meditation and relaxation. Additionally, meditation also helps to relieve stress.

Visualization

If meditation does not work, visiting a happy place might. To relieve dental anxiety, patients can visualize one place in their life where they feel the calmest. It could be a park, beach, sunset or even someone that makes them happy. This may seem too simple, but taking the mind off an impending dental treatment and switching to positive thoughts may help.

Sedation dentistry

Sedation dentistry is the final resort when all other methods are not effective for dental anxiety. With sedation, the dentist can help the patient relax during the procedure. Often, when the sedation wears off, the patient may have no recollection of the procedure. Sedation makes it easy for the dentist to complete multiple procedures in one appointment and ensure quicker solutions.

In conclusion

If you are dealing with dental anxiety, discuss with your dentist the different sedation options available and how they help calm your fear of dental procedures.

Request an appointment here: https://trophysmilestudio.com or call Trophy Smile Studio at (817) 778-0337 for an appointment in our Trophy Club office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.

Related Posts

What Are The Different Types Of Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers can improve your dental health. Your dentist can present many types of this dental restoration. Understanding the types of veneers available can broaden your options. Here are the different types of dental veneers that you must consider.These are the most common types of dental veneers. The material in these restorations is feldspar, which…

Dental Veneer Aftercare: Healing After Getting Veneers

Dental veneers are porcelain or composite resin shells that fit over the front of the teeth, correcting cosmetic imperfections. Their average lifespan is about ten years. However, taking care of veneers from the start can help them last up to 20 years. This article will discuss what to expect after getting veneers and provide aftercare…

Myths Vs. Facts About Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety is a common issue that affects people of all ages. This term refers to the fear, anxiety, or stress of dental visits. There are several misconceptions about dental anxiety, leading to additional fear or avoidance of necessary dental care. By separating facts from fiction, patients can better understand this condition and go to…

The Pros And Cons Of Getting Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are versatile restorations. Your dentist can improve the health and appearance of your teeth by applying these custom-fit shells. Talking to your dentist about the procedure can motivate you to set your treatment schedule. Here are the pros and cons of getting your dental veneers.Dental veneers can be a good choice for dental…