It’s fairly normal to have at least a little bit of fear or worry associated with going to a dental appointment. By some indications, more than one-third of Americans have some level of dental fear and about 12% suffer from an extreme version of that anxiety.
This fear causes people to avoid the dentist, which leads to negative dental outcomes in the future. These can include issues ranging from plaque buildup to cavities to gum disease, which can all lead to issues with your overall health as well. Instead of skipping out on appointments and risking your oral health, consider these tips to help overcome your dental anxiety:
Try Relaxation Techniques
What do you normally do to relax or relieve stress? Try that. You might also want to try to meditate or do some deep controlled breathing. Regardless of your method, it’s important to take time to get yourself into a relaxed mindset.
Arrive a Little Early, but Not Alone
If your goal is to be relaxed and avoid anxiety, you don’t want to arrive late and create further stress for yourself. Arrive a few minutes early, but not much more than that or you’ll risk building up more anxiety in the waiting room. If this is your first time at a new dental office, it might also be smart to bring a friend or family member with you. Even if they wait for you in the lobby, you’ll feel better knowing that you’re not alone.
Ask Questions and Speak Up
There’s nothing worse for your anxiety than not knowing what’s going on in your own mouth. Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist or dental hygienist what they’re doing or what they’re about to do. And if what they’re doing is hurting you or causing you discomfort, let them know. They may be able to adjust what they’re doing or ease the pain in some way.
Choose the Right Dentist
Not every dentist makes the effort to ease anxious patients, but that’s exactly what we do at Capital Dental Group. As your local dental care providers in Bakersfield, CA, we offer sedation dentistry to accommodate adult patients who suffer from dental anxiety. Call 661-861-8000 to schedule your appointment today!