8 Tips to Help You Overcome Dental Anxiety

dental anxiety Mableton, GA

Dental anxiety is a lot more serious than you think. It affects millions of people in the U.S., and it often causes people who suffer it to miss regular dental checkups and crucial dental treatments. Foregoing important dental treatments have long-term effects on a person's oral and overall health.

Overcoming dental anxiety

There are various things people with dental anxiety can do to help them to manage their fears. These include:

  • Get moral support: Having a friend there can help patients to feel more relaxed and comfortable while at the dentist. It also helps with jitters that might occur during the trip to the dentist
  • Use visualization: Thinking about a happy place can help to calm patients during their treatment. A fond memory or an exciting event coming up should do the trick.
  • Ask about the process: Talking to a dentist about what goes on during a particular treatment helps patients to feel relaxed. There are no surprises during the treatment and knowing what comes next often makes dental patients feel better.
  • Ask for a timeout signal: Some patients hate going to the dentist simply because they do not like the feeling of being crowded by a dentist and their staff. Such people can benefit from having a signal that lets the dentist know they need a break. Patients are less likely to freak out or panic during treatments when they know they can have a break whenever they want.
  • Bring a distraction: There is a wide range of distractions patients can use to keep their minds on other things besides the treatment they are getting like stress balls, movies, podcasts, or music. Wireless earbuds can be used to enjoy distractions and there will not be any wires getting in the dentist's way.
  • Take deep breaths: Deep breaths can help to calm nerves before and during dental treatments. Meditating can also be helpful for those with dental anxiety.
  • Inform the dentist about your fears: Talking to a dentist about dental anxiety allows them to create custom treatments that do not repeat past negative experiences the patient experienced.
  • Explore dental sedatives: Dental sedatives can help to keep patients relaxed during their treatments. These are medications that are taken prior to dental treatments or administered during them.

How sedation dentistry helps

Sedation dentistry is a branch of dentistry that aims to help patients to get past dental anxiety. For these people, overcoming their fears allows them to get dental treatments they need to keep their teeth and gums healthy, which, in turn, protects their overall health.

Nitrous oxide is one of the most commonly used sedatives in dentistry. It is a fast-acting gas that is delivered with a nose mask. It gives the patient happy and relaxed feelings while the dentist works on their teeth.

Get the dental treatments you need

Call or visit our Mableton clinic if your fear of dentists has kept you from getting treatments you need. Our dentist can help you to overcome these fears.

Here's how you reach us…

Request an appointment here: https://www.providencefamilydentistry.com or call Providence Family Dentistry at (678) 496-7021 for an appointment in our Mableton office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.

Recent Posts

Asking Your Dentist If Dental Implants Are Right For You

Asking a dentist about the dental implant process, including crown placement, is the only true way to know if it is an effective replacement for your oral condition. Therefore, every patient should feel free to ask their dental professional questions about their recommended procedures or treatment options. Unfortunately, too much information is available nowadays to…

What An Emergency Dentist Can Do For You

An emergency dentist provides the urgent dental care you need when you need it. Minor dental issues like cavities do not get significantly worse if they are not treated immediately, but issues like an infection can become a life-threatening issue during that period. People who cannot afford to wait for a routine dental appointment to…

Can Adults Get Invisalign® To Straighten Their Teeth?

Invisalign is a way for adults to straighten their smiles without others around them noticing. It is an innovative solution and a great method of teeth straightening for adults and older teenagers who may feel insecure wearing traditional braces. Understanding more about Invisalign can help you make a decision regarding the best treatment option.Adults often…

When Same Day Dentures Are Recommended

Dentures are removable plastic and metal covers that fit over the top and bottom teeth to help improve eating, speaking, and overall oral health after tooth loss or tooth decay has occurred. If you’re interested in learning more about when same-day artificial teeth are right for you, keep reading to learn more about the kinds…

Recent Posts

Asking Your Dentist If Dental Implants Are Right For You

Asking Your Dentist If Dental Implants Are Right For You

Asking a dentist about the dental implant process, including crown placement, is the only true way to know if it is an effective replacement for your oral condition. Therefore, every patient should feel free to ask their dental professional questions about their recommended procedures or treatment options. Unfortunately, too much information is available nowadays to…

What An Emergency Dentist Can Do For You

What An Emergency Dentist Can Do For You

An emergency dentist provides the urgent dental care you need when you need it. Minor dental issues like cavities do not get significantly worse if they are not treated immediately, but issues like an infection can become a life-threatening issue during that period. People who cannot afford to wait for a routine dental appointment to…