5 Ways to Calm Your Fear of the Dentist
We know there are a lot of people out there who are afraid of the dentist. Maybe they had a bad experience in the past, or maybe the sound of the drill makes them anxious. Or perhaps they don’t fully understand the treatments or procedures and they’re frightened.
At Sunrise Dental in Peoria, our first priority is ensuring your comfort and making every visit to our office as stress-free as possible. We specialize in anxiety-free dental care and gentle dental treatments. You don’t have to be scared to go to the dentist when you visit us!
Five Tips for an Anxiety-Free Dentist Visit
If you’re scared to go to the dentist, you’re not alone. Research estimates that 4.6 percent of women and 2.7 percent of men suffer from dentophobia—the fear of going to the dentist. This fear often makes people neglect their regular cleanings and exams. However, if you put off visiting the dentist, you might end up with a more serious problem.
1: Get to the Root of the Problem
What is it that makes you scared to go to the dentist? Is it a bad past experience? Fear of pain? Do you worry about the cost of the procedure? Or are you embarrassed because you have not been to the dentist in a few years and you worry they will judge you?
None of these reasons should not stop you from taking care of your oral health. Your dental health directly impacts your overall health, and bad oral health can lead to diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Try writing down your concerns to help you work through them. Talking them over with someone you trust will help you ease your worries.
2: Don’t Go Alone
Ask a trusted family member or friend to come with you to your appointment. They can keep you company on the way and be there to support you when you’re finished. While they may not be able to come with you into the treatment room, knowing that someone who cares about you is waiting nearby will give you more peace of mind.
3: Arrive Early and Ask Questions
On the day of your appointment, try to arrive early so you can relax before your appointment. When you arrive early, you’ll have extra time before your scheduled appointment to talk with our staff and ask any questions you have about your treatment or procedure. We’re always happy to share our knowledge, so never think that your questions are unimportant to us.
4: Come Prepared With Ways to Relax
Consider trying some relaxation techniques such as controlled breathing before your appointment. Controlled breathing—where you take a deep breath in and then release it slowly—helps relax tense muscles so you feel less stressed and more “centered.”
You might also want to bring headphones to your appointment so you can listen to your favorite music, a podcast, or an audiobook. Audio activities not only mask scary sounds, they also give your mind something else to focus on and make your visit go by more quickly.
5: Let Us Know About Your Fears
It’s hard to tell someone that you’re frightened, but we urge you to be honest and open with us and voice your fears. We know that many of our patients are anxious and scared when they walk through our doors. Our dentists and staff have years of experience working with patients to put their fears to rest and make them feel at ease. Don’t be afraid to let us know how you’re feeling so we can help!
We Can Help You Overcome Your Dental Fears
At Sunrise Dental in Peoria, we pride ourselves on making our patients as comfortable as possible during their visits. We offer many non-invasive treatments like diode laser therapy for gum disease and drill-free fillings. If it’s been a while since you’ve had your teeth examined, call us to make an appointment today at 623-487-4870.
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