Are you one of the millions of people who avoid going to the dentist because of fear or anxiety? Dental fear and anxiety are extremely common, you are not alone but when you put off visiting the dentist because of it, it becomes unsustainable. The health of your teeth and gums can affect your entire body so in order not to put yourself at risk we have a few tips and tricks on how you can combat your fear and start a conversation with your dentist about your anxieties.
Let your dentist know!
The first step to create a safe and anxiety-free environment for you is to ensure your dentist is completely aware about your fear and/or anxiety. When you do this, you allow for an open conversation with your dentist about your individual triggers. They can then help you create a step-by-step plan to ensure that when you visit them you are comfortable.
Learn coping techniques
Coping techniques may be simple but they can help you with your dental anxiety. Some techniques that have proven to work are listed below:
- Deep breathing
- Listen to music while in the chair
- Meditation
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Sometimes you may need something a little stronger
Learn Dental Sedation
If you have tried the techniques above but still aren’t successful you may want to try dental sedation. In order to try this, you need to have a conversation with your dentist about their options surrounding sedation with dental anxiety. The sedation could include:
- Happy gas
- Oral anxiety relieving medication
- Conscious sedation
- General anaesthesia
If you still feel as though none of these would work for you get in touch with us and we will be able to help you in the best pathway to get you in the dentist chair. It may not be easy, but your teeth will thank you for it later.