Conquering Dental Anxiety: Tips to Overcome Fear and Stress

Have a toothache, but dread going to the dentist? The appointment has been fixed, but finding excuses to wriggle out of it? Trying every possible home remedy or medicine to heal your gum infection?

You're not alone. There are hardly any people who look forward to sitting in a dentist's chair for getting a treatment done. So you have company. Dental phobia is a real thing.

However, delaying a visit to the dentist or avoiding it completely is not exactly a good idea. To prevent a minor issue from getting aggravated, and to smile your worries away, here are a few ways to cope with the anxiety and go through it with ease.

Address the 'fear':

In most cases, the fear has to do with the pain one is anticipating, and constantly nervous about. It may also be about how the dentist would handle the treatment, and imagining 'worst case scenarios' that you have heard from other people. In some cases, a person may have had an unpleasant experience in the past, and is afraid of repeating something similar.

Once you understand what you are fearing, accept it and then take the next practical step.

Find a dentist you can trust:

Look for a dentist that you can trust and be at ease with. You can do this by asking close friends or family to suggest someone they know, who is not only qualified and experienced, but has earned the goodwill of patients. 

Visit the dentist for a consultation and get an understanding of how they approach a diagnosis and treatment plan. Equally important, gauge how you feel while interacting with them.

- Does this person explain things in a simple and friendly manner, or does s/he intimidate you?

- Have you heard good word-of-mouth reviews from their patients?

- Is the staff friendly and helpful?

- Is the clinic ambience calming and yet equipped with premium dental technology?

The answers should be 'YES' to all the above questions.

Ask questions till you are satisfied:

It is okay to be clueless about a treatment or procedure recommended by the dentist, and it is even more okay to ask questions to clarify your doubts. You can ask the simplest of questions, without feeling embarrassed or dumb for not knowing it.

Be open to feeling like a student, and learning something new from a qualified and knowledgeable person.

Do NOT go online and look for answers from assorted websites, and self-diagnose.

Relaxation techniques - Meditation and Medication:

Learn slow breathing techniques that can calm you down, so that you feel more grounded and in control of yourself.

If you already have a meditation practice, start doing it regularly and keep affirming to yourself that everything will go through with effortless ease. 

If you have a procedure that you're concerned about, speak to your dentist and ask if there is any sedation or medicine that you will be given, so that your anxiety is reduced to a minimum. Let them know clearly that you are nervous, and have certain fears or phobias.

Take a family member or friend along:

Going with someone you feel reassured with, is a wonderful way to calm the nerves. Once you know that you have a friend or family member waiting out in the lobby for you, you will feel way better and centred.

Plan the rest of the day as a reward to yourself. Line up activities that you can look forward to, like a walk, a coffee, a movie or a trip to your favourite store. This will make you shift your focus on that instead of the dentist's chair.

Be there early:

Whatever the procedure that you have to go for, it is a good thing to be at least 15 minutes early, so that you have time to settle down, get your papers in order, and then pick up a magazine or book to read and distract yourself with.

Your dental health is as important as your heart health or general well-being, and being mindful towards it is a part of self-care. If there is a niggling issue, do not hesitate to at least see a dentist for a consultation, and then proceed with the treatment.

To seek the guidance of our dental experts at Apollo Dental or book an appointment, call: 18001020288