A GUIDE TO EASIER DENTAL VISITS

Introduction

For many, the mere thought of a dentist's chair can induce anxiety. However, regular dental visits are crucial for maintaining oral health. In this post, we'll explore practical strategies to help you overcome your fear of the dentist, making your visits more comfortable and less daunting.

1. Understanding Your Fear

First, it's essential to understand the root of your fear. Is it the fear of pain, negative past experiences, or the sounds and smells of the dental office? Identifying the specific cause can help you and your dentist find ways to make your experience better.

2. Communication is Key

Open communication with your dentist is vital. Don't hesitate to express your fears and concerns. Dentists are trained to deal with anxious patients and can adjust their approach to suit your needs.

3. Knowledge is Power

Often, fear stems from the unknown. Educate yourself about the procedures you're undergoing. Understanding what to expect can significantly reduce anxiety.

4. Bring a Friend

Having a trusted friend or family member accompany you to your appointment can provide moral support and make you feel more at ease.

5. Use of Distractions

Distracting yourself can be an effective way to reduce anxiety. Listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks during your appointment. Some dental offices even offer TVs or virtual reality glasses.

6. Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques

Practice deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation before and during dental visits. These techniques can help calm your nerves.

7. Consider Sedation Dentistry

For those with severe dental anxiety, sedation dentistry might be an option. This can range from mild sedatives to complete anesthesia, depending on your level of discomfort and the procedure being performed.

8. Regular Visits

Avoiding the dentist only exacerbates fears. Regular check-ups can prevent the need for more complex procedures in the future. Familiarity with the process and the dental team also helps in reducing fear.

9. Positive Reinforcement

Reward yourself after a dental visit. It could be something as simple as a relaxing evening or a favorite treat. This positive reinforcement can make future visits easier to handle.

10. Seeking Professional Help

If your fear is deeply rooted and interferes with your ability to seek dental care, consider seeking help from a therapist. Cognitive-behavioural therapy is effective in managing phobias, including dental anxiety.

Conclusion

Remember, overcoming your fear of the dentist is a gradual process. Each positive experience is a step towards easing your anxiety. With the right strategies and support, dental visits can become a less intimidating part of your healthcare routine. Your oral health is worth it!

Supreme Dental Concepts: "We Listen, Care and Explain"

With today’s modern sedation techniques & better understanding of the causes & solutions for dental phobia, there is no reason to fear the dentist. As dentists, the thing we fear the most is our patients being in pain or experiencing other challenges due to not visiting the dentist for checkups & treatment. Dentists & dental professionals are caring & compassionate people who got into dentistry to help others. Our primary goal is always your health & comfort, so if you experience dental phobia or fear, we will do everything we can to make visits to the dental clinic easy for you.

If you have dental fear or anxiety, it is very important that you tell the dentist, the dental hygienist, the dental assistant, & any of the other dental clinic staff who you directly interact with (for example, the receptionist or even the financial advisor). Don’t be afraid to tell us you’re uncomfortable! There is no way it’s the first time we’ve heard this & you are not alone. Plus, if we know you might be fearful or nervous, we can pull out all the stops to make sure you’re as comfortable & relaxed as possible.

We also recognize that dental anxiety can be a generalized anxiety about going to the dental clinic, or anxiety about a specific dental procedure or routine. For example, if you’re fairly comfortable at the dentist but feel anxious at the sound of an ultrasonic dental scaler, be sure to let us know so we can attempt to make you more comfortable.

We’re also aware that there’s such thing as dental phobia, that is more generalized & not necessarily rational. No matter your level of anxiety or fear, there are many ways we can put you at ease at our dental clinic & restore a positive relationship with your dental care.

Creature Comforts

For those with fairly mild dental anxiety, we can offer you creature comforts to distract or insulate you from certain irritations. If the sounds of certain dental procedures bother you, we can offer you earplugs. Or, you can wear headphones & listen to music that you find calming or that will distract you. We can offer you headphones if you do not bring your own. We can also provide sunglasses to protect your eyes from the light the dentist may be using to see inside your mouth.

Calming Techniques

From breathing exercises to simply talking to you, our dental hygienists & dentists are happy to walk you through calming techniques to guide you away from anxiety & back to calm. We’ll be encouraging when you’re doing well & understanding when you are not. If you’re starting to get uncomfortable, just signal us & we’ll pause the procedure until you’re able to go on.

Sedation

Sedation is a fantastic option for those who have dental anxiety or fear. And just like there are different level of dental anxiety, there are different levels of sedation to go along with it.

Intravenous or I.V. sedation is the most powerful form of sedation & is sometimes referred to as “being put under”. I.V. sedation is usually administered by an anesthesiologist or a dental professional certified in anesthesiology. With I.V. sedation you will be unconscious during your dental procedure & may have very little memory of it when you wake up. You’ll be groggy afterward, so a friend will need to take you home.

Pill sedation involves taking an oral sedative prior to your visit or procedure. This can be prescribed by the dentist once you have had a conversation about your dental anxiety. You will receive instructions on how soon before your appointment to take your pill so it will be in full effect during your visit. Similarly to I.V., you may be groggy as the sedation wears off, so a friend should help you get home.

Lastly & probably most common is nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” sedation. This involves inhaling a scentless gas that calms & relaxes you. Unlike the more powerful options of I.V. & pill sedation, nitrous oxide sedation only lasts while you are inhaling it. That means that after your procedure is over & the inhalation device has been removed, you’ll be back to normal without any grogginess.

Once again, we have to emphasize that it’s very important for you to tell us if you have dental anxiety. The last thing we would want is to put you in an uncomfortable situation that could have been eased or avoided by having a conversation about your anxiety. We have lots of experience working with anxious patients & we encourage you to think of us as a partner in healing & alleviating your dental anxiety.