Dental Anxiety: How to Overcome Fear of the Dentist
Fear of the dentist, dental anxiety, and dentophobia are commonly experienced by patients of all ages. Unfortunately, these negative feelings about visiting the dentist often keep people from getting good dental care which can result in the development of severe and complex oral health problems that require extensive treatment.
For this reason, we place a strong emphasis on preventative dental care for all patients. To help ensure all patients get the care they need, we use a variety of approaches to work with patients who have dental anxiety.
One of the most popular and effective strategies for overcoming a fear of the dentist is sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry uses different medicines (such as oral sedatives, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and even IV sedatives) to help patients relax in the dental chair and have more positive treatment experiences before, during, and after their dental appointments.
Relaxation techniques such as meditation, box breathing, tapping, positive ideation, and others can provide strategies for keeping calm while in stressful situations. Patients who practice these techniques can learn to better consciously control their stress responses during dental treatment.
Many patients with dental anxiety find immense relief in simply communicating openly with our dental care providers about their fears. When we know that you experience dental anxiety, we can ask you questions to gain a better understanding of how we can help ease your treatment.
For some patients, the experience of not being able to talk clearly during treatment causes them anxiety. In these cases, we can work out non-verbal communication strategies that allow patients to communicate more clearly during their appointments.
We welcome patients with dental anxiety to take breaks from their treatments or procedures during appointments. Just let us know if it's all getting to be too much, and we can let you take a breather.
Depending on the underlying cause of a patient's dental anxiety, therapy with a psychologist can sometimes help patients understand the root of the fear. By learning more about your fears, you can begin to understand them and address the past experiences that might be contributing.
Comfort items like a weighted blanket, heated pad, or stuffed animal can provide a surprising amount of relief during dental care.
We encourage patients who have dental anxiety to schedule their appointments on days that aren't otherwise stressful and at convenient times. When simply getting to your appointment is difficult, this additional anxiety can compound on top of the fear you are already experiencing.
If the sounds and sights of the dental office trigger feelings of fear, stress, and anxiety in you, then blocking them out can help. Many patients, especially those with sensory processing disorders, find that noise-canceling headphones and/or an eye mask can help them feel calm and relaxed during treatment. We also recommend listening to soothing music, an audiobook, a podcast, or a guided meditation during your appointment.
Positive reinforcement is a good strategy for helping yourself learn to associate dental care with positive things. After visiting the dentist, start treating yourself to an activity, treat, or other small reward - just like the prize table at the pediatric dental office. Positive reinforcement works on patients of all ages, and you deserve a reward for bravely facing your fears in the name of staying healthy.
If you struggle with dental anxiety, it's still important to get professional dental care - especially to prevent yourself from requiring more complex or invasive treatment in the future. We encourage you to talk with us about the sedation dentistry options available to you. At Grove City Smiles, we care for lots of patients who fear the dentist, and we want to help you, too!
To learn more about sedation dentistry and additional options to help you relax in the dental chair, we welcome you to contact us today.
We look forward to meeting you. Call (614) 350-5300 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
