Dental Anxiety

Question:

I started looking at your website a couple of days ago and really like how you guys break down all the technical stuff. My question is this: I need to go to the dentist, but I get so nervous just thinking about it. Are there any ways that you can suggest on how to get past this quickly- I don’t want to lose my teeth but I’m still nervous about going!

Answer:

Fear or nervousness thinking about the dentist is fairly common amongst patients (believe it or not), and you are definitely not alone in your concerns.  The good news is that this fear can easily be conquered with a variety of techniques once we discover exactly where that fear is coming from.  So let’s examine this question in two areas:

• Identifying the source of the fear or nervousness
• Identifying methods to alleviate this fear

Identifying the Source of Dental Fear and Nervousness

As we all know, the first step to solving a problem is correctly identifying the root of the problem.  If we can pinpoint exactly what causes this fear of the dentist, then we can begin to take the right steps towards finding a solution.

Fear of the dentist can come from several areas.  Let’s take a look at a few:

• Fear of embarrassment
• Fear of the anesthetic or receiving the needle
• Fear of feeling pain and not being able to get completely numb
• Fear of not being in control of the situation
• Fear of gagging, choking, or having an allergic reaction
• Fear of the overall dental office and dentist

Identifying Methods to Alleviate this Fear

Now let’s look at possible solutions to each fear:

• Embarrassment solution – As dentists, we look at teeth all day, every day.  After completing rigorous procedures on a variety of populations, your dentist has definitely seen it all!  We are here to restore health, not “put down” but rather to encourage and restore great dental health.  If embarrassed, call up the dentist and express your concerns.  Gain that comfort level with the staff and they will help to ease your fears when you go for your appointment.
• Fear of anesthetic, receiving the needle, or feeling pain solution – Ask the dentist for plenty of topical anesthetic.  Topical anesthetic is a creamy solution that is gently placed in your mouth with a cotton swab before the dentist administers the needle.  This will drastically reduce your ability to feel the needle.
• Fear of feeling pain solution – Remember, you are the customer in this situation and you should demand satisfactory conditions.  Do not be afraid to let your dentist know that you are feeling pain.  Your dentist will give you more anesthetic and try his/her best to make you as comfortable as possible. If not, find another dentist who will.
• Fear of not being in control solution – You are always in control of the situation.  If, at any time, you feel pain or would like for the dentist to stop, work out some kind of signaling system with the dentist to let him/her know.  We usually tell patients to raise their hands if they experience discomfort or would like for us to stop.
• Fear of gagging or choking solution – You definitely don’t have to be reclined all the way back in the chair.  The dentist can partially lean you back if you have a fear of choking.  Also, the dentist can place a 2 X 2 gauze on the back of your tongue to prevent you from swallowing or choking on any type of object or debris.
• Overall fear of the dental office solution – Schedule an interview and tour of the dental office with your dentist.  Go up to the office, ask all the questions you want, and ask for a brief tour of the office.  Sometimes being able to become familiar with a place, the staff, and the procedure will take away some of the fear.

Here are some more solutions, as mentioned in our dental phobia article here, on how to alleviate the fear:

• Ask for sedation – Laughing gas will definitely ease your tension and is highly recommended for nervous patients.  Though it costs a little more, it’s definitely a great way to take of the edge.
• Bring your I-pod or mp3 player – Listen to your favorite songs while in the chair.  Music has shown to lower stress and eases the mind.
• RESEARCH your procedure before going to the dentist – Stepping into the office with knowledge of the procedure will help to alleviate the fear of the unknown.
• Try relaxation techniques – Take 3 slow breaths in and out.  Repeat as needed.  Big, slow breaths help to relax the muscles and the tension in your body.

Hope these tips help out, and don’t be afraid to shop around for a dentist.  If you can’t find a dentist that understands and knows how to work with your fear, then find another one who will.  Believe us, Dentists receive hard core training on how to effectively deal with patients so finding a Great dentist won’t be a hard feat at all.

Good luck,

SaveMySmile Team

Feel free to browse our similar article: Dental Phobia

Dealing with Dental Phobia

Do you fear going to the dentist, or even the thought of making an appointment with the dentist?  Has your mouth and oral hygiene been neglected as a result of this fear? Believe it or not, many of us deal with some type of stress anxiety or fear when it comes to the care of our teeth, especially when we don’t really know or understand the type of treatment needed.

Most dental fears develop as a result of a direct experience. Meaning, you have had a traumatic or uncomfortable experience with a dental procedure in the past.  Oftentimes, people let that bad experience prevent them from going back to the dentist.  Because of this, their oral hygiene suffers, resulting in embarrassment, and systemic problems.

Keep in my mind that each dentist is different!  Some may be gentler than others.  Be sure to thoroughly research your dentist before making an appointment.

Here are some tips for dealing with dental stress, fear, or anxiety:

• RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!! – Anxiety is usually caused by the unknown.  If you are unfamiliar with a procedure or a term that the dentist uses, look it up.  There are a ton of resources on the internet (including this one) that are meant to help educate patients about procedures.
• Don’t be afraid to ask the dentist or dental hygienist questions. - Never feel intimidated by the dentist or any healthcare provider.  Our job is to make you feel comfortable, and more importantly, to ensure that you understand any and everything dealing with your mouth.
• Ask for sedation – Many offices offer light sedation.  If dealing with the procedure is just too much, just ask to be sedated.
• Try some relaxation techniques – For instance, before the procedure, take 3 deep breaths.  Slowly in, and slowly out.  Close your eyes and slowly relax your body.  Take your mind away from the current situation.
• Bring your I-pod or mp3 player to the appointment – Music has astonishing neurological effects on the brain.  If you need music to help relax, don’t hesitate to bring it with you.  Actually, many offices will provide you with music, movies, television, and virtual reality goggles, to help distract you and ease the tension.
• Ask for topical anesthetic – Make sure the dentist applies topical anesthetic before administering general anesthetic with the needle.  Topical anesthetic is gently massaged in your mouth with a q-tip.  This lightly numbs the area so that you won’t feel the needle as much.

Have more questions?  Feel free to leave a commit or submit a question to be included in our FAQ’s.