5 Ways to Tame Dental Anxiety and Get the Care You Need

Avoiding a trip to the dentist due to anxiety or fear allows your condition to worsen. As a result, you may need more intense treatments that in turn feed your fear. Modern dentistry is largely pain-free, so here’s how to deal with your anxiety.

Anxiety over a trip to the dentist is up there with public speaking as a fear shared by many. While pain associated with dental procedures is no longer much of a concern, the sounds and vibrations generated by dental equipment can raise your pulse even before you sit in the dentist’s chair.

Taming dental anxiety may not be as hard as you think. There are things you can do to get yourself through the visit. Dr. Jarred K. Donald of Cisco Dental offers these five ways to help you stay on top of your fears.

Talk about it

Dr. Donald may be able to sense your tension, but discussing your anxiety with him can help smooth the process. Consider the main reasons behind dental anxiety:

Fear of pain
Fear of injections and failure of injections
Invasion of personal space
Feelings of vulnerability
Concern about anesthetic side effects

By bringing up your fears, you help Dr. Donald to address the concerns that affect you most. If you’re worried about drilling, but it’s not on the list for the day, Dr. Donald can reassure you ahead of time. In some cases, there may be alternatives.

Dental anxiety is normal, so there’s no reason to be embarrassed about it.

Minimize your exposure

Schedule your appointments at off-peak hours. First thing in the morning is often a good time, since there are fewer patients and less activity. There’s usually less wait time as well, a typical place for anxiety to build.

Similarly, don’t arrive too early if you tend to work yourself up ahead of being called from the waiting room.

Distract yourself

Noise-canceling earbuds or headphones help to isolate you from your surroundings. Listening to a podcast or favorite music won’t completely distract you from the dental office or procedures, but it divides your attention.

You’ll have less mental energy to give over to anxiety as well as another focal point away from tension. Bringing a friend or family member can help accomplish the same goals.

Focused relaxation

Whether you prefer meditation, guided relaxation apps, controlled breathing, or other mindful wellness techniques, calming yourself can take the edge off your dental anxiety. It’s a concern that builds to the phobia level in many.

A typical trait of phobias is that you’re worried about something that isn’t really a threat. That’s why relaxation and redirection works so well.

Medications

When all else fails, anti-anxiety medications may help to rein in the outer edges of your concerns. They can help with the physical symptoms of anxiety, like reducing high blood pressure.

When you discuss your dental anxieties with Dr. Donald, he can recommend medications that may be helpful for you.

The effort to get beyond dental anxiety is worth it when you consider the overall value that good oral hygiene has on your health. Putting off dental care because of worry increases the risk of needing more extensive procedures as well as introducing health risks.

Contact us at Cisco Dental by phone or online to schedule your next appointment. Gum disease, decay, and dental repairs won’t wait, and neither should you. Book your visit now at our Cisco, Texas, office.