Fear and anxiety about visiting the dentist are extremely common. Our Surrey dentists offer advice and tips to help you get over your dental anxiety.
Most people experience some degree of dental anxiety, whether it has to do with a fear of needles, anxiety about a feeling of invasiveness and loss of control, concerns about pain, previous negative experiences, or even embarrassment over poor dental health.
Our Surrey dentists help our patients deal with varying degrees and types of dental anxiety on a regular basis, and over the years they’ve discovered the steps and techniques that help the most in quelling their fears.
Face Your Fears
Confront your feelings and fears, and actively consider them. You may find it helps to write them down in a list. This can help you look at them more objectively, and it will help you explain your feelings and concerns to your dentist, too.
This in turn will help your dentist better address and alleviate your fears.
Communicate Your Fears to Your Dentist
Don’t worry, we won’t be offended! It’s perfectly understandable and normal to feel anxiety about a medical procedure, and that includes dentistry, too.
Good communication is the foundation of a good patient-dentist relationship. Tell your dentist how you’re feeling right off the bat, ideally during your initial consultation. This will allow the dentist to better gauge your needs and develop a treatment plan that suits them.
Together, you and your dentist can agree on cues and signals that you can use during treatment if you need a break or become uncomfortable.
Try Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques can help you feel a bit more calm leading up to and during a dental appointment. Try things like yoga and controlled breathing to help relax your muscles and slow your heartbeat.
Use Distractions
Using distraction techniques and tools can help you keep your mind off of what’s going on during your dental procedure. For instance, you can listen to some music, play with a stress ball, count to yourself or come up with number patterns in your head.
Ask About Dental Sedation
Our Surrey dentists offer dental sedation options for patients whose dental anxiety can’t be quelled through the above means. » Learn More
Choose the Right Dentist for You
Choosing a dentist who takes a special interest in helping patients with dental anxiety can be extremely helpful. Our Surrey dentists have spent a lot of time and energy considering how best to help patients with dental anxieties, and they take an active approach to addressing a wide range of fears on an almost daily basis.
We consider it our mission to help you feel comfortable and at ease with your dental treatment. After all, patients who feel good about their treatment will be more likely to get it, to the benefit of their oral health!