Do you feel nervous before you visit the dentist? Unfortunately, dental anxiety is a common phenomenon. Some studies suggest as many as 36% of the population experiences at least some anxiety surrounding the dentist, with an estimated 12% noting extreme dental fear. Another study revealed that 8.4% of its participants even missed a dental appointment due to their fear of dental procedures.

Although dentists do everything they can to make a calm, smooth, and comfortable appointment for each patient, we still hear about the nerves people feel before going to the dentist. Do you feel nervous in the days leading up to your dentist appointment? If so, these tips to overcome dental anxiety are a great place to start.

Why Do People Experience Dental Anxiety?

There is no one reason people experience dental anxiety. A range of factors can contribute to feeling nervous about going to the dentist. Some of the things that contribute to feelings of dental anxiety include:

• Poor past dental experiences: Negative past experiences are one of the primary contributors to dental anxiety. If you had a bad experience at the dentist in the past, that memory can lodge itself into your brain and leave you feeling nervous about the dentist for months or years afterwards. Finding a kind, calm, understanding dentist is crucial to overcoming this block.

• Hearing about poor past experiences from others: Sometimes people do not have a poor experience themselves, but they hear about another person’s negative experience at the dentist. No matter whether their fear stems from their experience or another’s, though, having a bad time at the dentist can make it difficult to return.

• Fear of pain: People often think that going to the dentist automatically means pain, but the majority of dental procedures are pain-free. Any procedure that could cause pain involves numbing or sedation options to keep you from experiencing it. However, the association between dental visits and pain can run deep and can be difficult to overcome.

• Embarrassment: Some people feel nervous about going to the dentist because they are embarrassed about the condition of their teeth, gums, or breath. This is especially true for people who haven’t been to the dentist in years and have lots of things they are concerned about. Your dentist has probably seen it all, though, and you have nothing to be embarrassed of. Dentists are overjoyed by the opportunity to help people reclaim their oral health and feel confident about their smiles once again.

• Sensory sensitivity: People with sensory sensitivities are particularly aware of their surroundings at the dentist’s office. They may associate dental procedures with overwhelming sounds, smells, or sensations that are difficult to handle and leave them feeling unsettled every time they go in for a visit.

• Phobias: Some people have specific phobias related to the dentist. These include things like a fear of dentists (odontophobia) or a fear of dental procedures (dentophobia). Full phobias may require more intensive measures to address and treat before returning to the dentist.

5 Steps to Ease Dental Anxiety

No matter why you might experience dental anxiety, understand you are far from alone. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to ease your dental anxiety before your next appointment comes.

1. Talk to your dentist

Talk with your dentist about your dental anxiety. You aren’t the only patient they see who deals with it. They likely see at least a patient or two per day who gets nervous before their dental appointment. If you let your dentist know ahead of time, they can ease your fears by explaining your procedure in-depth or offering some additional solutions for your dental anxiety.

At Canvas Dental Care our dentists, Dr. Soha Haghani and Dr. Hamed Bozorgmanesh, underwent intensive training with psychologists in clinical settings. They learned to identify the root causes of the patients’ anxieties and help them overcome those fears.

Additionally, Dr. Soha Haghani has a background in Psychobiology and Dr. Hamed Bozorgmanesh has extensive experience with anxious pediatric patients. Their extra experience means they provide the most calming environment and the best care possible.

2. Practice relaxation techniques

Relaxation techniques are a great tool to use when you deal with dental anxiety. Things like mindfulness, breathing techniques, and meditation are all great practices to incorporate while you sit in the dentist’s chair.

3. Use distraction tools

Sometimes dentists allow the use of headphones or offer television screens at their practice. Listening to music or an audiobook in your headphones or watching a show you enjoy on TV can distract you from your procedure and keep you calm during your appointment.

4. Consider sedation options

Sedation options may be available depending on your procedure. Talk with your dentist beforehand to see whether you are a candidate for options like nitrous oxide (laughing gas), prescription medications, or oral sedatives to calm some of the nerves you feel before your dental appointment. At Canvas Dental Care, our dentists are experienced professionals who can evaluate you and offer the best possible solution to make sure you have a positive and relaxing experience during your visits.

5. Stay consistent with dental appointments

Once you find a dentist you trust and feel comfortable with, sometimes exposure is the best way to work through and overcome your fears. Staying consistent with your dental cleanings is a great way to manage your dental anxiety. The more exposure to positive experiences, the more you will feel that your dentist’s office is a safe place to be and the less likely you are to feel dental anxiety when your appointment time arrives.

If you need a new dentist or are past due on a dental appointment, Canvas Dental Care in Foothill Ranch, CA would love to help. We know that the dentist’s office can be nerve-wracking for some and our experienced dentists can make sure to provide the most calm and comfortable environment possible. Call us at (949) 581-4908 or submit an online appointment request form to speak with us about any concerns you may have before scheduling your next appointment!

References

1. Medical Principles and Practice. (2014). Why Are People Afraid of the Dentist? Observations and Explanations.