Having a fear of the dentist is very common, whether you’ve had an unpleasant experience in the past or you simply don’t feel comfortable there. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to put up with it, as there are ways to help combat your fear and allow you to prioritise your oral health. From choosing the right dentist initially to having moral support and considering therapy, there are so many options depending on the extent of your fear.
Organise A Visit Before Your Appointment
The first thing you can do that can really help you to ease anxious feelings before your visit to the dentist is to organise a visit. Do a bit of research to look for dentists experienced in working with patients who have a fear of the dentist, then arrange a visit before you book any appointments. If a dentist isn’t willing to arrange this for you, then they’re not the right fit. A good dentist will take the time to show you around the practice and have a chat in a room (this will usually be in a consultation room rather than one of the treatment rooms). You can ask as many questions as you’d like and just get to know the practice more. The element of something unknown can make a fear of the dentist worse, so if you’ve already been to the practice and know the team and environment, this can make things easier.
Talk To Your Dentist
Once you’ve got an appointment booked, it’s important that you talk to your dentist. Explain that you’re a nervous patient and be open about anything specific that concerns you. Depending on what you’re there for, your dentist can then make sure that you’re well accommodated, whether it’s agreeing on a signal to take a break through the treatment or providing distraction techniques to make it easier for you. You’re not alone when you have a fear of the dentist, and the right dentist will take the time to make you feel as comfortable as possible.
Practice Relaxation Techniques
Something else that can really help you to ease feelings of anxiety whilst you’re at the dentist is practising relaxation techniques. Before you go to the dentist and in the days coming up to it, practise some meditation and deep controlled breathing. If you do start to feel overwhelmed when you’re at the dentist, you can revert to these techniques and just try to focus on your breath.
Discuss Sedation Options
Something else you should do if you have an extreme fear of the dentist is to discuss sedation options. If you’re at a point where it’s unsafe for the dentist to complete the treatment or you can’t bring yourself to sit in the chair, then sedation options can help to reduce your anxiety. This could be nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to put you at ease, or for more invasive treatments, full sedation may be an option too. Speak to your dentist about all the options here, if your fear is mild they will likely recommend other coping mechanisms before this, but just remember that if you can’t face going to the dentist without having some medication to help you relax, then there are options. Nothing is worth sacrificing your oral health for!
Bring A Friend
Another good option is to bring a friend with you to the appointment. For some people, the build up of making their way to the dentist and then sitting in the waiting room can contribute to the anxiety quite significantly, so when you have someone there with you, it can ease these feelings. Whether you want them to wait in the waiting room or come in with you, you have options and that familiarity of someone you know being there can really help. If the treatment you’re having doesn’t require any recovery time, you could also plan something nice for afterwards like brunch or a walk, so you have something to look forward to.
Consider Therapy
If a fear of the dentist is really taking over, then something you could consider is cognitive behavioural therapy. This involves working with a therapist to break down your fear and change associated negative thought patterns. Breaking cycles and practising new behaviours over a course of time with a professional can really help you to move forwards in a positive direction. If you’ve tried any of the other methods and you’re still really struggling, this is definitely something to consider.
Final Thoughts
We understand just how much a fear can get in the way of daily life, with the dentist being one of them. However, don’t simply accept your fear and struggle, as there are so many things that can be done to help you overcome it. One of the most important is to choose the right dentist in Leamington Spa, London or Liverpool, as they will then provide you with plenty of different options to make the process easier for you. So, do some research and visit a few different dentists to find the right one for you.
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