Do you feel a knot in your stomach at the mere thought of visiting the dentist? You’re not alone. Dental anxiety and phobia affect millions of people worldwide, often preventing them from seeking necessary dental care. But don’t worry – there are effective strategies for managing dental anxiety and making your next dental visit to us a breeze.
Understanding Dental Anxiety
To understand dental anxiety we first need to take a look at what causes it. For many, it stems from past negative experiences, fear of pain, or simply the unfamiliarity of the dental environment. Just the sound of dental equipment and the fear of needles can also contribute to anxiety levels for some. Understanding the reasons behind the fear allows patients to move forward and talk to their dentist, so that together they can make adjustments in how they are treated.
Tips for Managing Dental Anxiety
- Choose the right dentist: Find a dentist who understands and empathises with your anxiety. At Cotteswold House Dental Practice, our dentists want you to feel comfortable and will take the time to listen to your concerns and tailor the experience to ease your fears. By approaching our reception team to raise your fears, you are starting on a journey towards achieving optimal dental health!
- Open communication: Don’t hesitate to communicate your fears and anxieties with your dentist. Discussing your concerns upfront can help alleviate anxiety and allow your dentist to adjust their approach accordingly.
- Gradual exposure: Familiarisation can help put you at ease. If you’re particularly anxious, consider scheduling shorter appointments initially to gradually acclimatise yourself to the dental environment.
- Relaxation techniques: Practise relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or listening to calming music before and during your dental visit to help keep anxiety at bay.
- Bring a support person: Having a trusted friend or family member accompany you to your appointment can provide comfort and reassurance.
- Distraction: Bring along distractions like a favourite book, podcast, or handheld device to take your mind off the dental procedure.
- Visualise success: Visualise yourself successfully completing the dental procedure and focus on the positive outcomes of maintaining good oral health.
Sedation
For those with severe dental anxiety or phobia, sedation dentistry offers a solution to help relax and minimise discomfort during dental procedures. We are delighted that we are now able to offer sedation at our surgery for patients who need this option to access dental care. Intravenous (IV) sedation is administered through a vein by an anaesthetist. IV sedation provides a deep level of relaxation where you remain conscious and you are able to communicate with your dentist but may have little to no memory of the procedure afterward. If this is something you are interested in learning more about, please ask our reception team for further details.
Conclusion
It’s important you don’t let dental anxiety prevent you from achieving optimal oral health. By employing these tips for managing anxiety and exploring sedation options with your dentist, you can overcome your fear and embark on stress-free dental visits. Remember, your dentist wants to work with you to ensure you have a comfortable and positive dental experience, so start by initiating contact with our friendly reception team and they can walk you through the next steps from there. Once you take that first step toward conquering your dental fears your smile will thank you for it!
Cotteswold House Dental Care is a family-owned dental practice that offers a relaxing and friendly atmosphere that gives you complete peace of mind whilst protecting your smile. As well as sedation, our in-house services include general dentistry, children’s dentistry, dental implants, dentures and bridges, whitening and composite bonding, advanced treatments such as root canals and oral surgery, Invisalign, and many more. We welcome referrals from other practices as well as self-referrals.