Did you know dental fear affects around 20% of today’s population. If you’re afraid of the dentist, you’re not alone. Not many of us look forward to going to the dentist, but some skip their appointments all together. Dental checkups and cleanings are an important part of keeping yourself healthy through out the year and skipping them can affect your health negatively. Keep reading to learn tips on how to overcome your fear and visit your dentist in Medford today!
Communication
The best thing you can do to get things rolling is to talk to your dentist about your anxieties. Most people with dental anxiety put up mental walls around their practitioner that makes it harder to personally interact with him or her. The more your dentist knows about your concerns, the more they can help you relax.
You can ask the dentist about what will happen at your appointment, express your worries, and ask for breaks during your visit. Your dentist will make sure they provide enough time for a longer treatment if it means better comfort for you.
Dental Fear Relaxation Techniques
If you’re nervous at the dentist, you can practice relaxation techniques to keep your mind distracted. Use controlled breathing if you’re feeling panicky in the dentist’s chair. Breathe in for a slow count of three and exhale for the same amount of time. Although this may sound simple, it’s incredibly effective in slowing your heart rate and keeping your mind on breathing rather than what’s going on in your mouth.
Another distraction tactic you can use is to talk during your appointment. Well, you can’t talk because your mouth will be busy, but you can have a friend or nurse in the room talk to you during your treatment. Listening to your favorite music or podcast will also have the same distraction effect.
Therapy and Treatments
If the techniques we’ve provided above don’t help, you can seek therapy or specialist treatments to help get over your dental phobia. Believe it or not, dental fear is so common that there are therapists around the country that specialize in this issue specifically.
Sedation is another way to overcome your fear of the dentist. The most common type is something dentist’s use called conscious sedation. It has less risk than sedation used for extensive surgeries, but it is rapid and effective. You could fall asleep, but you’ll be able to wake up to verbal cues.
Therapy and sedation treatments should only be used if you have severe dental phobia. Try out our easy relaxation tips before you spend more time and money on a therapist or sedation. The most important thing you can do for yourself is to recognize your fears and to discover strategies and techniques you can use to overcome them.
Meet the Dentist
Dr. Anthony Giamberardino has been caring for his Medford patients for decades. He understands dental fear is something that a lot of people deal with, so he does his best to make his office comfortable, and your visits as easy and painless as possible! He currently runs his own practice, where he can be contacted through his website or by phone at (781) 396-3800 for any questions.