It's common for patients to become nervous if they have a dental appointment ahead of them. Dental anxiety and fear affect many people in America. A publication in the Journal of Dental Hygiene (JDH) by the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA), says that anywhere between 50 and 80 percent of the adult population in the United States suffers some level of dental anxiety, from mild to severe anxiety. If you are one of those people, you should know ways to create a more comfortable, anxiety-free dental visit.
Here is How to Reduce Dental Fear
First, recognize your fears and write them down in order to talk about them with the dentist. Listing the fears will help the dentist explain what may be causing them and how you can deal with them. Ensure you have the right dentist to engage with. Call them to see how they respond to your needs and how they talk. You don't want to deal with a dentist who will add more stress to your dental visits.
Try to communicate your fears, phobia, and anxiety early on before setting up an appointment with the dentist. Being vocal about your anxiety, apprehensions, and fears allows the dentist to gauge your situation. This way, the dentist can tailor an action plan that works for your dental care needs. A dentist can identify cues or signals that indicate your need to take breaks or stop a procedure if you are getting uncomfortable.
Practice relaxation techniques to allow you to remain calm during a procedure. Controlled breathing, whereby you take a big breath and let it out slowly, is one way you can relax your muscles and slow your heartbeat. You can even use distractions to divert your attention from the dentist or dental tools during treatment. For instance, you can listen to music, fiddle with a stress ball, or watch a funny video. Last but not least, see if sedatives can work for you such as nitrous oxide, local anesthetic, or IV sedation.
Talk to us about your dental fear, apprehension, phobia, and anxiety. We will help you reduce these feelings to make you comfortable during your appointment.
Our Dental Blog | Smiles of Tulsa - Dentist in Tulsa, OK Corbyn VanBrunt, DDS has created this informative blog to help educate the community. Click here to learn more about home care, procedures and more! Smiles of Tulsa, 6565 S. Yale Ave., Ste. 1103, Tulsa, OK 74136 + (918) 891-3059 + smilesoftulsa.com + 9/7/2024 + Related Phrases: Preventive Dentistry Tulsa OK +
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It's common for patients to become nervous if they have a dental appointment ahead of them. Dental anxiety and fear affect many people in America. A publication in the Journal of Dental Hygiene (JDH) by the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA), says that anywhere between 50 and 80 percent of the adult population in the United States suffers some level of dental anxiety, from mild to severe anxiety. If you are one of those people, you should know ways to create a more comfortable, anxiety-free dental visit.