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Dental anxiety is something many people experience, but not a lot of people want to talk about. You might think it mostly affects children or those who have a history of serious dental issues, but a worldwide study found that 61% of the respondents suffered from dental fear, with some of the reasons cited for this anxiety being fear of pain, fear of the chemical smells, and fear of the sound of the drills. Going to the dentist can put you in a vulnerable and uncomfortable situation, so it’s no surprise that people experience anxiety around their visits. Needles, the crowding of dental tools in their mouth, or just the embarrassment that they haven’t taken care of their teeth turns many people off of dental care.
Research discovered that one-third of the U.S. population avoids the dentist due to anxiety and fear. As dentists, this is a sobering statistic. Avoiding professional dental care can be a slippery slope, as putting off regular dental visits may lead to tooth decay, periodontal disease, and painful conditions that will eventually require professional help in the end. The sad fact is, that once the health of your teeth has been neglected, you could end up needing one of the more uncomfortable and invasive procedures you had hoped to avoid in the first place.
Maintaining regular dental visits will actually end up saving you more money and discomfort than never going at all. In fact, keeping an eye on the health of your teeth could benefit your whole body if, for example, mouth cancer is caught early, or dental decay eradicated that could have negatively affected your heart and other organs. While knowing how important dental care is, we understand this still doesn’t magically make the fear and anxiety around dental treatments disappear, but we’ve come up with some tips to help you overcome and manage your dental anxiety in the future:
- Advocate for yourself.
As the statistics show, if you experience any level of dental anxiety, you are not alone. Dentists understand this fear is normal, so telling them how you are feeling will allow them to best serve you where you’re at. Come up with a signal that lets them know when you need to take a break during the exam. If you experience any pain during the visit, let your technician or the dentist know right away so they can adjust to make you more comfortable.
- Practice Mindfulness Techniques.
Your mental state plays a huge role in the ability of your entire body to relax. Try deep breathing exercises, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation to get your mind and body into a calm state.
- Don’t go alone.
Ask your dentist if you can bring a loved one with you into the exam. Even if they can’t accompany you to the back, knowing you have someone waiting for you just outside will likely make you feel more relaxed and safe.
- Laughing gas.
You can talk to your dentist about the possible use of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, to help take the edge off your anxiety while also allowing you to stay awake for the exam.
- Use distractions.
Try bringing some headphones to listen to your music or a favorite podcast. Ask the technician if they can turn the TV to a show that makes you happy. Squeeze a stress ball or your hands together and try to imagine you’re far away in your favorite place.
- Find a dentist you feel comfortable with.
Dentists exist to serve you and your health, but not every office is going to be a great fit for you. Try finding an office that specializes in minimizing anxiety. Ask questions and know it’s ok to shop around until you find that perfect fit.
For many of us, going to the dentist will never be something we look forward to, but we hope some of these ideas may help make your next visit a little more pleasant. Our highly trained staff at Simply Smiles wants to provide our community with professional and personalized care. We take special precautions with children and strive to ensure that they experience a fun and comfortable environment where parents are encouraged to accompany their child throughout the whole process. If you’ve experienced dental fear and have been putting off going to the dentist for a while, we hope you’ll call our office today and take that first step towards overcoming your anxiety. We would love to meet you right where you’re at and answer all your questions so we can decide together on the best way we can serve you and your smile!
Sources:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dental-anxiety-and-phobia
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/anxiety
https://www.smilesforlifeortho.com/blog/2019/10/dentist-anxiety-tips
https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/dental-anxiety#treatment-and-coping
https://www.deltadental.com/us/en/protect-my-smile/visiting-the-dentist/dental-anxiety.html
https://www.dentalproductsreport.com/view/study-finds-more-60-percent-people-suffer-dental-fear
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/easing-dental-fear-adults
https://simplysmilesmiami.com/services/pediatric-dentistry/