Nervous When Visiting The Dentist? Here Are Some Tips To Help You Stay Calm!
Going to the dentist is very important for your dental hygiene, but some dental-goers have extreme anxiety when it comes to following through with their appointments. Even though it may not be the most comfortable appointment to commit to, it’s an extremely important one.
We understand what it’s like to be uneasy about routine check-ups, or even in-depth procedures. That’s why we compiled this list of anxiety-reducing tips to help you stay calm on your way and during your dental visit!
Sedation & Anxiety Control
Sedation dentistry is the perfect choice for those who experience a little, to an overwhelming amount of dental anxiety. With a range of options, you’ll be completely relaxed and comfortable throughout your next dental appointment.
First, we listen to your concerns. We then discuss different methods for making you as comfortable as possible. Together, we lay out a treatment plan that will meet your needs. We have several options for getting your mouth fixed and being relaxed while we do it.
A list of methods that we use to ease your anxiety are as follows: Comfortable Injection Techniques,
Local Anesthetic for Pain Free Care, Bellingham Dental Fear Counseling, Distraction Techniques. Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas), Oral (Pill) Sedation, Intravenous Sedation, General Anesthesia in Office and Post-Treatment Comfort.
Read more on our Sedation & Anxiety control tactics on our website by going to our Services page, and then clicking on Anxiety Control, or by reading this blog post.
Meditation
When you’re not in the right mental state, meditation is a great way to help you to refocus and recenter yourself before moving on. There are different types of meditation that can have different impacts such as guided meditations, yoga, deep breathing exercises and even body scans to help you get in the right state of mind.
You can run yourself through these different types of meditation, or find videos on meditation through apps or online.
Music
Another nice tip to help you relax both physically and mentally is to ask your dentist if it’s okay to wear headphones or earbuds while going through your appointment. Listening to music is a great way to keep your mind busy, and can aid as a nice distraction.
Alternatively, downloading a book-on-tape or listening to your favorite podcast can serve as something to focus on instead of the procedure itself.
Also we have a list of CDs and videos that you are welcome to listen to/watch through our wireless headphones and overhead screens.
Open Up
Informing your dentist about your hesitations is always a great idea. By letting your dentist know how you’re feeling and what’s going on, they’re able to be more mindful of your concerns during your appointment as mindfulness can take many forms.
If needed, your dentist can slow down their movements, let you see and explain each tool before using them or answering any questions that you may have.
Communication
In addition to communicating, you and your dental team can come up with hand signals to let them know when you’re too uncomfortable to proceed, implying that you need to take a break. This is especially important because your dentist doesn’t want to make you uncomfortable, they want to clean your teeth and benefit your dental hygiene and are willing to do anything to accommodate you, as the patient, in order to make sure you are comfortable.
Here at Eric Yaremko Dentistry, we specialize in Anxiety-Managed Dentistry. Our main goal is for you to have a comfortable experience before, during and after your dental visit. Visit our website, or give us a call if you have any questions regarding anxiety and how it may impact your dental visits.
