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 Dental Anxiety

Many people feel jittery even with the thought of a dental visit. The tendency to delay visiting the dentist due to discomfort, nervousness, or fear can have severe long-term implications on not only oral health but also other complications, including diabetes, heart, and respiratory diseases. Dental anxiety is real and makes people avoid going to the dentist until the pain becomes severe or significant damage to the teeth or gums. It also becomes tough for the dentist to treat a patient who is anxious than the one who appears calm. Taking good care of the teeth and regular dental visits for check-ups and cleanings is the only way to ensure good oral health and discover and treat any issues in earlier stages only.

Dental anxiety symptoms

Here are some of the common symptoms that people experience due to dental anxiety:

• Low blood pressure

• Using ways to disguise the anxiety

• Sweating

• Panic attacks

• Fainting

• Difficulty in breathing

• Extreme discomfort

• Anger and agitation

• Increased heart rate

• Difficulty sleeping

Possible causes of dental anxiety

People can experience dental anxiety due to:

• A bad or negative dental experience in the past

• Fear of losing control

• Discomfort due to invasion of personal space

• Fear of needles and sound of the drill

• Embarrassment due to poor oral health

• Trust issues

• Fear of sedation

Knowing the possible causes of anxiety can help in managing it and look for ways to address it.

Ways to cope with dental anxiety

These tips can help overcome the fear and anxieties related to dental visits:

• Choose a good dentist near you who will not only treat the dental issues but also listens and addresses your fears with compassion. Assurance from the dentist can work well in calming anxiety.

• Having good communication with the dentist and the staff and knowing what procedure they will follow and what tools will be used can help calm the nerves.

• Use distractions like listening to music, watching TV, squeezing a stress ball, or concentrating on positives, with your eyes closed can help.

• Taking deep breaths and practicing meditation is a proven way to stay calm and relaxed during a stress-inducing situation.

• Consider taking anti-anxiety medication prescribed by a physician before a dental procedure.

• If you are comfortable, take a friend or family member along for support.

• Use sign language to communicate with the dentist during the procedure to let him know when to stop or indicate any discomfort.

• For patients experiencing extreme anxiety, sedation dentistry can help keep the patient relaxed and calm before and during the dental. Many dentists use nitrous oxide as a popular relaxation solution.

• Be mindful of what you eat before a dental appointment. Avoid caffeine and sugary food, and eat a high-protein diet.

• Select a time for an appointment when you are mentally prepared and likely to be less stressed

Dental anxiety is not uncommon, and informing the dentist in advance about the fears and concerns can make the process smooth and less stressful. It is essential to address the worries rather than avoiding them. If you’re stressed about having dental work performed, tell us! We can help address these needs to make your dental experience as pleasant as possible.

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