Every day, we encounter patients who are moderately to intensely afraid of entering our doors. There are a myriad of reasons why individuals have dental- related fear, but most of them involve a harrowing past experience, or a person who was insensitive to their comfort level. Studies suggest that one in three people will avoid the dentist until pain or circumstances force them into a local office. Even patients that are moderately confident in their dental care occasionally feel nervousness before an appointment. If you're one of the two-thirds of Americans who don't dread a visit to the dentist; lucky you! For many, avoiding the dentist's chair and ignoring small problems can lead to serious, more expensive fixes. There are a few techniques for minimizing dental anxiety; calming your fears and maximizing your dental health will benefit you for years to come.
If you experience uneasiness in the dental chair, it's likely caused by two things: a feeling that you have lost control of what's happening (or what will happen), or a lack of knowledge about what your dentist or hygienist is actually doing inside your mouth. Both of these issues can be drastically improved with a little communication. Uncertainty on your part is something we constantly try to avoid. If you need more information, have questions or would like to see what we're doing with a mirror, we are here to help. Please, just say the word! Everyone on our team is more than willing to explain beforehand exactly what we're about to do, or if you prefer we can give you a step-by-step description of what we're doing, in real time. If you feel the slightest bit uncomfortable at any time during your cleaning visit or other appointments, you only have to signal us. We will pause and figure out how to get you comfortable before we continue. We're continually looking for a hand or eye signal, or a verbal command from our patients - so that they always feel 100% in charge of their care.
Many of our patients calm themselves by fixating on something besides what we are doing. That may sound simple, but changing your focus to something you find more enjoyable definitely will alleviate anxiety. You are welcome to bring your Smartphone, iPod or other MP3 device and plug your headphones in, and relax.
If you have fear associated with a previous experience or a painful memory, please inform us that you'd like a little extra help in this area. It's common for some patients to need a little more anesthetic or more time to become profoundly numb before procedures. The same goes for patients that need to become mentally prepared for our services because of past experience. The more we know about your anxiety and what triggers it; the more prepared we can be to make sure that you don't feel a thing. You can relax, knowing you're in complete control of the procedure; we can always pause if you need to regain your composure.
If you've tried these options, and still feel profound anxiety; then some sort of sedation may be the answer. In most cases, we can prescribe an oral sedative to be taken before your appointment. This medicine can help us achieve oral conscious sedation, in which we pair an oral sedative with nitrous oxide - so the patient remembers little, if anything, about the appointment itself. You'll be able to respond to simple directives but will be completely at ease and tranquil during your visit.
At the very least, bring your concerns to our attention, and let us develop an anxiety-reduction plan for you involving one or a combination of these techniques. There's no need to let your oral health suffer when our office is staffed with kind and caring professionals waiting to come to your aid. We're known for our ability to help even the most fearful patient overcome their anxieties. We'd be delighted to help you, as well. For more information, please call our office.
