Dentist Office Terror: What To Do

The discomfort and dread that a dentist office causes for you can seem both terrifying and embarrassing. Whether a traumatic experience occurred in a dental chair or you simply dislike the experience, that fear can be soothed. How?

Seek Sedation Dentistry

For some, fear settles in as soon as they arrive in a dental office and only builds from there. Some dentists might not be able to handle this escalation of discomfort; however, sedation dentistry is offered by many dentists today. What is that?

Sedation dentists are typically skilled in calming their patients before their work begins. Their staff will usually call in some light anti-anxiety medications for you to consume before appearing in the office. They may also utilize nitrous oxide and other sedation techniques during your visit. However, more importantly, because sedation dentistry specialists know that you are extremely scared of what's going to happen. This means that they are generally more sensitive to your voice, body movements and other cues that you're uncomfortable. Before starting they will explain what their work entails and will ask you to alert them whenever you feel especially uncomfortable.

Bring Headphones

For some dental patients, the sounds of the various machines used can bring back scary memories that make them feel queasy or afraid. Block out all those sounds with headphones. Ear buds may pop out of your ears and be ineffective at canceling those sounds. When you wear headphones, you can, of course, listen to music or follow along with an audiobook. You might even plan to watch a show or movie.

Bring a Person

People can be engaging companions who soothe or distract your mind. A close relative or dear friend can often tell when you're becoming upset and has likely perfected ways of getting a smile from you. This can make a dental visit more bearable.

Perform Oral Care

Pain is one cause of anxiety, fear and trepidation at the dentist. You might anticipate painful procedures from cavities and other oral problems. To avoid those, ensure you're serious about cleaning gums and all your teeth. The better you're able to protect your mouth, the less likely you'll need painful procedures.

Delaying your dental appointments because of fear can ultimately cause real problems for your oral health. Cavities, gum disease and similar trouble can happen when your fear keeps you away from dental professionals. Therefore, use these recommendations and allow a skilled sedation dentist to help address your fear and care for your mouth.


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