Here at Trident Dental in Houston, Texas, our skilled providers offer a wide range of dental services with a gentle touch. Still, we know that dental anxiety is a real fear for many patients. If you’re one of them, you don’t have to be embarrassed.
We want to do everything we can to make you feel more comfortable, because the more comfortable you feel, the less likely you’ll be to skip checkups and cleanings, and the healthier your mouth will be.
To get you started on the track to overcoming dental anxiety, we’ve put together five tips you can use to overcome your fear of going to the dentist.
The first step to overcoming dental anxiety is letting your dentist know about your fears. Get specific and share everything you can. The more your provider knows, the more help they can give. You can even tell the receptionist when you initially book your appointment, so it can be noted in your patient profile.
Tell your provider anything that concerns you, such as:
Furthermore, feel free to interrupt during your cleaning if you think of something you forgot to say.
Sometimes, simple distractions ― such as music ― can help alleviate dental anxiety. You may benefit from investing in noise-canceling headphones that can silence outside sounds as you listen to your favorite music, an audiobook, or a stand-up routine.
You can also bring your phone or tablet into the exam room and watch movies or TV. You’ll just have to put everything away for X-rays if you need them. Other tactics can include squeezing a stress ball, holding a comfort item, or visualizing happy images.
It may help to center yourself before you come to your appointment. Some people with dental anxiety find success in doing yoga, performing breathing exercises, or meditating before an appointment.
Breathing exercises may be especially helpful because you can employ them during your appointment. If you start to feel nervous, anxious, or stressed, take your focus away from the dentist and place your focus on your breathing. Long, deep breaths can dampen the physiological effects of stress and anxiety.
If there’s one thing to keep in mind, it’s that your overall health depends on your oral health. Oral diseases have been linked to serious health complications, including heart disease. not only is it worth attending your regular checkups to keep your teeth looking good, but also it’s an important part of your overall health.
To discuss your dental anxiety or any of our wide range of professional dental services, call Trident Dental at 281-975-4942, or request an appointment online.
