Tips To Overcome Dental Anxiety

Many people get overly nervous when confronted with the prospect of going to the dentist

. In some cases this fear can prevent people from seeing their dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. If this sounds like you, it is important to learn how to control this fear and become comfortable seeing your dentist. Neglecting your oral health will come at a cost and can cause major problems. Learning to overcome your dental anxiety is the first step towards taking control of your oral health.

What You Can Do For Dental Anxiety

To overcome dental anxiety, there are a number of steps you can take. From simple mental exercises to changing dentists, it is important to find the method that works for you.

*Choose a dentist you trust. This is perhaps the most important thing you can do. You must have a dentist that you feel comfortable with and that you know will listen when you tell him or her to stop.

*Schedule a non-rushed appointment. You may want to schedule an appointment for a time that you will feel less rushed at. This might mean scheduling an appointment for a night or weekend.

*Use your imagination. It may help to simply close your eyes and picture yourself somewhere else to help you relax. Many people choose to close their eyes and imagine themselves at a beach during dental appointments.

*Distract your senses. Lots of patients bring their iPod and headphones with them to the dentist's office to help them ignore the sounds going on around them. Many dentists also have televisions on that can offer a distraction.

What Your Dentist Can Do For Dental Anxiety

It is also very important for your dentist to understand that many patients suffer from dental anxiety and for him or her to take measures to make a visit to their office as simple and painless as possible. Here are a few things your dentist can do to make your trip go as smoothly as possible:

*Communicate. To make patients feel more comfortable, your dentist must clearly communicate what is happening and listen to verbal and non-verbal cues to see when a patient is uncomfortable.

*Sedation. In some cases, the best course of treatment is to sedate the patient during a dental procedure. Through oral or IV sedation or nitrous oxide, the patient will be chemically relaxed and the dentist will be free to conduct the procedure.

*Relaxation Amenities. Many dentists will offer a variety of amenities to make their patient's dental visit seem more like a spa experience. This can include: massage service, warm blankets or televisions.

Dental anxiety is a serious problem that affects a large percentage of the population. Contact your Dubuque dentist today to learn what they can do to help you with dental anxiety.

by: Gen Wright

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