How To Cope With Dental Anxiety
Posted January 29, 2018 in Uncategorized
Dental anxiety is very real for over 30 million Americans who avoid the dentist due to fear. Pain is the number one contributor to this dental anxiety for patients over 25. Luckily, dental offices like OC Healthy Smiles have realized this issue and are making efforts to reduce anxiety at dental visits.
If your oral health is suffering due to dental anxieties, the following article will help you combat these fears at your next dental visit.
Communicating With Your Dentist
Recognizing you have dental fear is one thing, but dealing with it is a completely different affair. Do your best to pinpoint what causes the anxiety and explain it to your dentist. For example, if you are uncomfortable with the sounds associated with your treatment, let your dentist know. At OC Healthy Smiles, we offer headphones to all patients to help ease your mind during your visit. Options like headphones, Dish tv, and warm scented towels are great distractions your dentist can offer that will keep your mind from worrying.
If you have anxiety communicating with your dentist, we offer physical comfort menus at your visit where you can simply point to the aid you need.
Fear of Pain
As mentioned earlier, the fear of pain is the number one reason patients choose to avoid the dentist. This fear could have been caused because dental practices 25 years ago did not have the technology like we do today to prevent painful visits. With the advancements in topical and injectable numbing solutions, a visit to the dentist will leave you with little to no pain. At OC Healthy Smiles, we take time with each of our patients to hear your concerns so we can best accommodate your needs.
Relaxing Techniques
At OC Healthy Smiles we offer relaxation aids that put your mind and body at ease. We have some patients who even doze offer during their treatment! Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” can be used during your regular visits and is available by request. There’s no need to find a driver because, with nitrous, you will be able to drive yourself to and from your visit since the gas does not enter the bloodstream. For total relaxation, you can choose pain-free sedation dentistry with our certified dental anesthesiologist. If you have questions about any of these options, the doctors will spend the time to go over each option with you.
Keep in mind that your dental fears will not go away instantly, but we will be with you each step of the way to overcome them. Call your caring dentists at OC Healthy Smiles at (714) 294-2229 to schedule your exam and cleaning today.