Stress-Free Smile

TAKING THE ANXIETY OUT OF DENTAL WORK

BY ANNETTE BROOKS

Do you feel anxious about going to the dentist? It could be due to a negative experience in the past. Perhaps the treatment was unexpectedly painful, or you felt rushed through your appointment. Maybe the dentist wasn’t very communicative, the staff was unfriendly, or it felt like they dictated treatment without adequately explaining and showing you why you need it. Did you feel they judged you because you hadn’t visited the dentist in a while? Or maybe it’s a case of fear of the unknown.

Whatever the reason, please don’t let fear and anxiety hold you back from maintaining your oral health and keeping your smile in top condition. Many dentists know how to help you overcome these feelings and make seeing them a positive, stress-free experience. Here are some common methods used to accomplish this.

Open Communication and Patient Education: Effective communication that builds trust is an essential component of patient comfort. Dentists who put their patients first take the time to explain procedures in a way that is easy to understand, which can help alleviate fears and misconceptions. They also encourage patients to express their concerns, actively listen, and provide clear explanations about what to expect, and the technology and techniques they use to make treatment comfortable.

Empathy and Understanding: Recognizing and acknowledging a patient’s fear can go a long way toward making you feel more comfortable.

Welcoming Setting, Soothing Spa-like Amenities: Many dental offices are designed with a calming environment, inviting décor, and comfort amenities. During treatment and exams, music or television, aromatherapy, blankets, noise-canceling headphones, and even virtual reality goggles may be available. Aftercare may include lip balm and a warm face towel.

Pain Management: Advances in dental techniques and anesthetics have made it possible to perform procedures with minimal to no discomfort. In addition to numbing gels and local anesthetics, dentists may offer various forms of anesthesia and sedation to help manage pain and anxiety. They include nitrous oxide, oral sedatives, or even IV sedation. These methods help patients relax or even sleep through their procedures.

Behavioral Techniques: Deep breathing, guided imagery, or progressive muscle relaxation can help patients manage anxiety. Some dentists or their dental staff may teach these techniques to patients to help them relax during their appointments.

Technology: Many dentists use advanced technology to make procedures more comfortable, effective, efficient, and less intimidating. For example, laser dentistry can be less invasive, faster, and may be virtually pain-free compared to traditional methods. And digital scanners eliminate the need for using goopy impression materials that can make you feel like gagging.

Regular Appointments: Encouraging regular dental visits helps patients become more familiar with the dental office environment, the staff, and routine procedures, which can reduce anxiety over time.

Recognizing that each patient’s level of anxiety is different, dentists often tailor their approach to meet individual needs, whether it requires more time to explain procedures, the use of sedation, or simply providing a reassuring presence. By employing these and other strategies, dentists aim to create a positive dental experience that encourages regular dental visits and maintaining good oral health.