Tips for Dealing with Dental Anxiety

It's more common than you'd think to struggle with anxiety about scheduling and keeping dental appointments. If you find that you put off dental care due to anxiety, you certainly aren't the only one. However, there are numerous ways to limit your anxiety around visiting the dentist so that you can promptly take care of your oral health and handle any problems that crop up. Let's take a look at some easy tips for dealing with the symptoms of dental anxiety:

Talk to the Office in Advance

If going to the dentist makes you anxious, you aren't alone. Dental anxiety is quite common, and is your dentist is likely familiar with it. If you struggle with dental anxiety, consider contacting the dentist's office to let them know about your symptoms. Open a dialogue with the dentist, and they may have some coping skills to help you get through your first appointment. In some situations, medication or sedation dentistry may be an option for anxious patients to get through their dental procedures.

Bring a Distraction

Some patients find that the noises of the dentist's equipment make them more anxious. If this is what you experience, you may be able to bring music or white noise to the procedure room with you to help you drown out the noise. Ask the receptionist if this is an option before you schedule your appointment, so you'll know if something like this is allowed to help distract you from your anxiety.

Focus on Your Breathing

If you feel yourself getting anxious, it may help you to focus on your breathing. If you're breathing in a quick, shallow manner, you'll only become more anxious. Instead, do your best to breathe deeply from your diaphragm, counting as you breathe. You’ll calm down on a physiological level to cope with your anxiety and get through your appointment with as little stress as possible. Deep breathing is a proven stress-busting technique, so be sure to give it a try.

Choose Your Appointment Time Carefully

If you know that dental work is difficult for you, it may also be wise to pay careful attention to scheduling your appointments. If you schedule an appointment early in the morning, you may need to rush to get there and find that your anxiety level is higher. If you plan a dental appointment between numerous meetings and other work-related events, you may feel rushed. Be sure to take off an appropriate amount of time for the appointment, commute time and recovery time, and set aside the time that you'll need to calm yourself before and after your appointment.

Don't let dental anxiety keep you from making an appointment for a cleaning, filling, or evaluation. Contact Jacas Family Dental today to learn how we can assist you with your anxiety and work up a comprehensive treatment plan to get your oral health back on track.