How to Manage Fear of the Dentist

You have an appointment at the dental office and find yourself breaking out in a cold sweat. You even consider canceling your appointment and putting off some much-needed dental treatment. You’re not alone. Millions of people suffer from dental anxiety, some more than others. Continue reading to learn how to manage the feelings of anxiety and fear that you might experience in a dental chair.

What is dental anxiety? Why does it occur?

Dental anxiety is a common problem. It is essentially an irrational fear, anxiety, or stress associated with a dental visit. There can be various reasons for a person to experience anxiety at a dental practice.

Pain

Many people assume dental treatment will be painful. The truth is modern-day dental care is far less painful than most people imagine. Dentists and dental hygienists have various treatment options available for pain control during a dental visit.

Fear of the unknown or loss of control

Dental offices can appear cold, clinical, and intimidating to some folks. Sitting in a dentist’s chair for dental care can bring on feelings of nervousness, anxiety, claustrophobia, or lack of control. Not knowing what’s going to happen often makes anxious patients even more fearful. Asking the dental team lots of questions can help allay these fears.

Bad experience with dental care in the past

Some dental clinics do not take the time to alleviate anxiety and manage patients with a dental anxiety disorder. A past poor dental treatment experience can lead to an even greater dental phobia, including extreme fear at future dental visits. A good dentist will always take the time to address the concerns of fearful patients.

Embarrassment

People who have not maintained good dental hygiene or have not kept up with dental visits sometimes feel embarrassed to seek dental treatment. These dental fears are unfounded because there is a good chance your dentist has seen worse in terms of oral health. Fearful dental patients should remember that the longer they put off dental visits, the more likely they will have severe dental problems and poor dental health.

Is it normal to be terrified of the dentist?

Dental phobia is quite common. Surveys estimate that dental anxiety affects approximately 13-24% of people. Up to 1 in 4 people may have unreasonable fears associated with dental appointments.

Why is it important to address dental phobia?

People with severe dental anxiety may avoid going to the dentist at all costs. As a result, their dental health suffers. Over time, they might develop stained and discolored teeth, cavities, chipped or cracked teeth, gum disease, tooth pain, tooth loss, and other oral health issues. That’s why, instead of avoiding the dentist altogether, it is important to overcome dental phobia and get regular dental care.

Strategies for coping with dental fear

Find a good dentist

Going to the dentist can feel significantly less stressful if you have a dentist who takes the time to understand your dental anxiety. The right dentist will help you feel comfortable and confident. Friendly, caring staff members and a relaxed atmosphere in the dental clinic are also important to make you feel less anxious.

Arrive early

Being rushed when going to the dentist can worsen anxiety and dental phobia. You should plan to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time so you can take it easy and be more relaxed.

Bring a friend or family member

Many dental phobics find that bringing a friend or family member for moral support helps them feel less anxious. It’s a good idea to bring someone who is not fearful of going to the dentist and can help put you at ease.

Use relaxation techniques

A relaxed mindset before a dental appointment can help to lessen dental fear. You can accomplish this by practicing meditation, relaxation, and deep breathing or doing a few yoga stretches at home. Listening to a comedy podcast or soothing music in the waiting room can also produce a relaxation response and reduce the fears associated with a dental setting.

Talk to your dentist about your fear of the dental chair

As mentioned above, dental anxiety is incredibly common. There’s a good chance your dental hygienist and dentist have a lot of experience caring for patients with dental fears. But if you don’t talk to your dental professional about your worries, they may not realize you need more personalized care and attention.

If you are honest about your dental phobia, on the other hand, caring dentists will ensure you have a relaxed and comfortable experience. A good time to tell the dental office about your dental anxiety is when you make your appointment. This gives them time to prepare and plan their dental procedures accordingly.

Ask questions

One of the things that feed dental fear is not knowing what’s going to happen. You can reduce dental anxiety by asking a lot of questions about the dental procedures you’re having.

Be sure to voice any concerns about pain, for example, and ask what the dental team plans to do to keep you comfortable. If a specific instrument in the dentist’s tray makes you anxious, don’t be shy to ask what it’s for—this can make it less intimidating. Tell your dentist if the dental chair is uncomfortable or if you need a few minutes before continuing. Communication is key. The more you talk about your dental anxiety, the more comfortable your time in the dental chair is likely to be.

Distract your mind from the dental work

Dental offices offer a range of solutions in the treatment room to help distract you. They may provide headphones with soothing music to block the sound of drills and suction tubes, eye masks and blankets to create a feeling of comfort or have television screens to take your mind off what’s happening.

Discuss medications for dental anxiety

Modern dentistry has many options to make dental work more comfortable, such as using a local anesthetic instead of dental injections, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral sedatives, and conscious sedation to relieve dental anxiety. Most dentists are happy to accommodate your requests. Talk to your dental team about what they can do to keep you comfortable.

Wrapping Up

Poor dental health is associated with a range of oral health problems and poor general health. Fear of the dentist should not be the reason for avoiding preventive care and not getting timely dental treatment. You can make a visit to the dentist's office less anxiety-inducing with a few simple strategies. The main thing is to find the right dentist and communicate your dental fear.

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