Does the thought of coming to see us send shivers down your spine? You’re not alone. Many adults suffer from dental anxiety. Dental anxiety can stem from negative past experiences or just the fear of the unknown. Either way, we’ve developed some tips to help you conquer your dental anxiety to ensure that you have a healthy mouth.
#1 Talk it Out
If you have dental anxiety the first thing you should do is let us know. Talking through your anxiety has been proven to help lessen the effects. Let us know your concerns and ask plenty of questions. We are always happy to address any concerns and answer all questions.
#2 Signal
Before we begin, develop a signal with us, such as raising your hand. If you become overwhelmed during the procedure you can deploy your signal and we will pause what we are doing to give you time to take a breather.
#3 Distract
Wear headphones and listen to your favorite music, audiobook, or podcast to distract yourself from the noises of a dental office. You can also bring a stress ball to squeeze to keep your mind off of the procedure.
#4 Educate
Often times we are most scared of the unknown. Talk through the procedure with us so that we can explain step-by-step what we will be doing. Modern dentistry is wonderful and as pain-free as possible. We do our best to keep you comfortable and informed during the process.
Dental anxiety is not something that will go away overnight, but we are here to help you as best we can. Try implementing these techniques, and let us know if there is anything we can do to make your visit more pleasant. We are always here to help!