How To Deal With Dental Anxiety
Some people are so anxious about visiting a dentist that they keep putting off dental appointments. This can reach a level where their dental health is compromised since they are not receiving the care and treatment they need. This article discusses some approaches that you can use to overcome or reduce your dental anxiety.
Talk To The Dentist About It
One of the best things you can do to ease your dental anxiety is to talk to the dentist about it. This is because as you talk, you will reveal what exactly you are afraid of and the dentist will address your concerns. For instance, if you felt a lot of pain during a dental procedure in your childhood, the dentist will inform you about the different anesthetics available to prevent you from feeling pain. You will then feel less anxious when you need to get any procedures done.
Keep Your Mind Occupied
Another way to keep dental anxiety at a minimum level is to distract your mind from the dental procedure you are undergoing. For instance, ask the dentist to give you video glasses so that you can watch a movie as he or she fills your teeth. The movie will keep your mind off the dental procedure and you will feel less anxious.
Take A Break, If Need Be
Some people can feel so anxious while they are undergoing a dental procedure that they get claustrophobic in the dentist's chair. For such people, taking a break and then letting the dentist continue with the procedure can be very helpful in combating their dental anxiety. You should therefore feel free to ask your dentist to allow you to take a break if you feel the anxiety is building up to an uncontrollable level.
Request A Sedative
It is within your rights to ask the dentist to give you a sedative in case your anxiety is so high that it may interfere with the dental procedure you need to undergo. The dentist will decide whether to partially sedate you or put you under full sedation so that you are unconsciousness while the procedure is done. This will help to tame your dental anxiety.
Realise that you are not alone if you suffer from dental anxiety. Share what you go through and your dentist will find a way to help you deal with that anxiety. The suggestions above are a starting point for you to consider as you start your journey towards taming the anxiety that may have kept you from getting the dental care that you need. For more information, contact a clinic like Cambridge City Dental.