Are you afraid to go to the dentist?
Does the thought of seeing the dentist give you anxiety? If so, you are not alone. Anywhere from 10-20% of Americans avoid dental appointments due to fear and/or anxiety. That means roughly 30-40 million Americans do not go to the dentist due to fear and anxiety. That’s a lot of people! Anxiety can include trouble sleeping the night before, feeling nervous, uneasiness, and even crying and getting physically ill at the thought of going to a dentist. Let’s look at some ways to ease your dental fear and anxiety.
Share your anxiety with the dental staff
Please share any fears and anxieties you have with the staff so we can serve you better. We will gladly address any concerns you have and help manage your expectations by giving you choices and options for your care.
Choose a time when you feel less rushed and under less pressure
Adams and Cheek Dentistry is available for appointments first thing in the morning, evenings, and even weekends. We offer a wide range of times to best accommodate our patients.
Wear headphones
You are welcome to bring your earbuds and plug in to your phone, iPod, or other entertainment device.
Forgot to bring it? Don’t worry. We have earbuds you can use. We also have televisions in the restorative rooms so you can zone out and watch a show or movie!
Use a stop signal
Talk with your dental professional and come up with a signal that means you need a break or a moment to talk. A common stop signal is to raise your hand.
Use a neck pillow
We have several neck pillows and can keep you a little more upright if lying all the way back makes you anxious.
Come in early for your appointment
We say this because we have an awesome relaxation room in the back of our office. We have our second fish tank located there. Feel free to come in, make some hot chocolate, and lie down by the fish tank to relax until your appointment. We can bring you one of our blankets and you can listen to your iPod and relax.
Medications
If you tried all of the above and you are still nervous, we also have nitrous oxide and oral sedation available. Keep in mind that depending on which route you go; you may need a driver to and from your appointment.
We understand that many patients have some level of dental anxiety, and we are very empathetic to this issue. If you are afraid to go to the dentist, please discuss any concerns you have with us so that we can find ways to alleviate your anxiety. Please feel free to stop in any time to check out our office and meet our staff or click here to read more about our office!
