Call Us (208) 888-2026
Dental anxiety is a common condition as nearly 40% of people have some kind of dental anxiety and 15% of people will avoid the dentist at all cost, choosing to suffer with periodontal disease or cavities rather than see the dentist. One woman even claimed that she would rather give birth than go see the dentist. Even if your dental anxiety isn’t that extreme, it can be hard to work up the courage to visit the dentist. Here are some tips to help ease your dental anxiety.
Understand Why You’re Afraid
The first thing to do if you have dental anxiety is to try to figure out where it stems from. Once you pinpoint the cause, you can more easily determine a solution. Common causes of dental anxiety include:
- Fear of loud noises such as a dentist drill
- A traumatic dental visit in the past
- Media portrayals of the dentist
- Fear of losing control
- Parents who also had dental anxiety
- Fear of pain
Talk to the Dental Staff
When you come in for a visit, let our staff know that you experience anxiety. We will do all we can to help you feel comfortable during your visit. It may even be helpful to do a “test visit” where you stop by the office just to chat, rather than have dental work done to help you feel more comfortable with our staff. When you are in the dentist’s chair, ask our staff to explain what they are going to do before they do it, and establish code words or gestures that mean you need to take a break.
Bring a Friend
It is always nice to see a familiar face, and we will allow you to bring a friend to your annual checkup to ease your anxiety. They can sit with you in the waiting room and even come back to the dentist’s chair in most cases.
Listen to Music
If it is the loud noises often associated with dentistry that cause you anxiety, feel free to bring your favorite tunes to help you relax.
Sedation Dentistry
If you’re still anxious, perhaps you can try sedation dentistry in Meridian. This can help even the most anxious patients relax in the dentist’s chair. There are many different levels of sedation dentistry, so talk to Dr. Gerard or Dr. Smith to see what is right for you.
If you’re looking for one of the best dentists in Meridian, you’ve come to the right place. Our staff does everything in our power to help ease your fears and make your dentist visit as pleasant as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us today!