Dental anxiety is very common. It affects around 36% of the population, with 12% having severe dental anxiety that may interfere with essential dental care. If you find the right way to address your anxiety, you can improve your overall dentist appointment experience and help protect your oral health.

Understanding Dental Anxiety

The first step to overcoming dental anxiety is to understand it. This condition affects people in different ways and in varying degrees of severity, so your experience and emotions are unique.

The most common types of dental anxiety involve fear of needles, dental equipment, or procedures. Some people are troubled by the sounds of the dentist’s office, and some worry about the condition of their teeth.

There may be a primary cause of your anxiety, such as a negative experience with a dentist in the past. Fear of pain is another major factor. People who don’t visit the dentist regularly can develop unrealistic ideas about the experience, and these are often worsened by representations in popular culture.

Communicating With Your Dental Team

One of the most powerful tools for combating dental anxiety is engaging in transparent communication with your dentist. Your dental team needs to understand how you feel in order to plan treatment effectively. They can’t take action to help with your fear of the dentist if they don’t know about it.

This is also why it’s important to choose the right dentist for your care. A good dental team will provide empathetic and supportive care for anxious patients. They’ll take the time to hear your concerns and adjust their treatments and procedures accordingly.

Steps You Can Take to Manage Dental Anxiety

Even with the help of your dental team, you may still experience some anxiety. Fortunately, there are a variety of effective methods to relieve dental anxiety. One or more of these tips could be just what you need to enjoy a more comfortable patient experience.

Deep Breathing and Relaxation Techniques that Help Dental Anxiety

Deep breathing and other relaxation techniques are helpful when dealing with any anxiety-inducing situation. Exercises where you focus on breathing in and out fully at a certain pace can help calm you.

These exercises may be helpful immediately before your procedure, before you enter the office, or before you leave your home, whatever is right for you.

Distraction and Mindfulness

Distraction is another common technique used to deal with dental anxiety. Focusing on something else can prevent you from fixating on the procedure. Distractions as simple as listening to your favorite music during your procedure could be enough to offer relief. Ask your dentist about specific accommodations as many dentists already have some in place, such as televisions, headphones with music, and more.

Sedation Options

In severe cases, dental anxiety can significantly impede your ability to receive dental care. Sedation dentistry is available to solve this problem. A local anesthetic can numb you, preventing pain, and options such as oral sedation and IV sedation also produce a calming effect that leaves patients awake but feeling relaxed and drowsy.

Preparing Mentally for Dental Visits

Mental preparation can go a long way to improve dental anxiety. Whenever possible, plan your dentist appointment well in advance and mark it clearly on your calendar. Talk with your dentist about what to expect and decide what you will do before and after your appointment. This predictability helps ease anxiety.

Seeking Support and Accompaniment

It’s perfectly appropriate to have someone come along with you to your dentist appointment. Talk with your dentist to see if a friend or family member can sit with you during your procedure. If that’s not possible, having someone accompany you to the office can be a significant source of support.

Gradual Exposure and Desensitization

One of the most common reasons people develop dental anxiety is that they haven’t visited the dentist for a long time, possibly in many years. If you haven’t seen the dentist in some time, start slow with a simple checkup and teeth cleaning. You can discuss other treatments you might need with your dentist and schedule them at your own pace.

Celebrating Progress and Rewarding Yourself

Overcoming dental anxiety isn’t something that should be overlooked. If you have a successful dentist appointment, instead of looking at it as a negative experience you’ve managed to get through, see it as a success on your path to lasting oral health. Don’t be afraid to celebrate the progress and reward yourself.

Professional Support for Dental Anxiety at Staley Dental

You can always talk to your family dentist in Boise, ID, about dental anxiety. Ensuring a comfortable patient experience is an essential part of providing quality care. At Staley Dental, we provide personalized accommodations to improve your dental experience, along with sedation dentistry options. Reach out today to see how we can help.