Tips for Overcoming Dental Anxiety

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Tips for Overcoming Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety or dental fear is a severe fear of visiting the dentist. This fear can be so severe that it results in difficulty visiting the dentist. It might cause a person to miss dental appointments, which can lead to serious dental problems. Listed below are some tips to ease dental fear.

Discuss your fear with your dentist

If you are anxious about seeing a dentist, then it’s important to discuss it with him or her. Most dentists are skilled at dealing with patients who are anxious or nervous because of their work. They will be able to help you overcome your fear and even prevent it from occurring in the future. They are trained to handle all kinds of patient personalities and specialties, so don’t worry about feeling embarrassed!

Agree on a signal with your dentist

During dental procedures, you may feel so much fear that you cannot stand it any longer. In this case, you should tell your dentist about your fear and ask him for a signal that you can use to stop the procedure at once.

Take a friend or family member with you for emotional support

When you go to the dentist’s appointment, having someone to accompany you for support can be of great help. It can help you feel calmer and more relaxed throughout the procedure. It also helps to have someone to talk to after the procedure to debrief and process what happened during the treatment, so don’t be afraid to ask someone to tag along! If you’re still too anxious about a visit to the dentist’s office, ask your dentist for any recommendations of sedation methods to help you calm down before your appointment.

Bring distractions to occupy your mind during procedures

You can bring something to keep your mind occupied and distracted during your procedure. For example, you can bring your favorite movie to watch or headphones to listen to music. You can also ask your dentist if you can bring a music player and listen to relaxing music throughout your procedure. 

Consider sedation dentistry

Sedation dentistry may be a solution for those whose dental fear is keeping them from getting the dental care they need to stay healthy or maintain their oral health. There are different levels of sedation available at dental offices depending on the patient’s needs. Oral sedatives are one of the most common types of sedation dentistry used. These medications are taken by mouth and work to calm patients down before and during procedures. Another type of sedation dentistry offered is nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. It’s often used for children to help them stay calm during their appointment. It’s also useful for patients with mild anxiety. Finally, IV sedation is often used to help patients with severe dental fear and anxiety. The medication is administered directly into the bloodstream through a vein in the arm. This helps patients relax and stay comfortable during their procedure. While under IV sedation, your dentists and providers will closely monitor the patient. 

Contact Rittenhouse Dental Group at 255 S. 17TH ST., STE. 2807, Philadelphia 19103, or call 215-546-2311 to learn more about dental sedation.

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