Though dental anxiety is thought to be common in children, it’s also an issue some adults struggle with. This is a condition whereby one experiences fear, stress, and nervousness in a dental setting. This causes a person to sweat, have trouble sleeping, experience extreme uneasiness, cry, or panic before a dental appointment. For people with mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the fear of visiting a dentist can be worse.
An embarrassing or traumatic experience can cause anxiety at the dentist’s office. It can also result from the fear of needles, loss of control, pain, or anesthesia side effects. In most cases, dental anxiety leads to avoiding the dentist.
Appointments to see these professionals help ensure the early detection and treatment of cavities and other oral health issues. Therefore, one can develop teeth and gum issues by delaying or not attending dental appointments. Also, minor oral problems could become worse, requiring more complex treatment.
If you struggle with dental anxiety, you are not alone. Other adults experience this, too. The good news is that it isn’t permanent, and you can overcome it. Below are four ways to ease the anxiety and make your next dental visit a more tolerable experience:
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1. Tell Your Dentist About Your Anxiety
Informing your dentist about your anxiety is an essential step to consider. Don’t be afraid to do so because the professionals have seen patients with similar concerns before. When making your appointment, tell your dentist about the aspects that cause fear. It may be the needles, the drills, the pain, or anything else.
The professional will write it in your file and look for ways to make you feel more comfortable during your visit. They may recommend deep breathing for relaxation and will be more sympathetic. You can also suggest ways the specialist can help you. For instance, you can request sedation. If they don’t offer this service, check here to find experts who do and can come to your dentist’s office to perform the procedure.
2. Consider Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques can help you before and during your dental appointment. You can try deep breathing while in the waiting area and when your dentist gives you a break. Close your eyes, use your nose to inhale deeply, hold your breath, then exhale slowly through your mouth. Do this repeatedly until you feel calm.
You can also try relieving tension in your whole body. To do so, start relaxing from your head to your toes, concentrating on different parts and muscles at a time. Meditating before your appointment can also help you relieve tension. Additionally, practicing yoga can offer several benefits that could lessen your anxiety. It’s a good technique to consider before your dental visit.
3. Distract Yourself
Bringing something to distract yourself at the dentist’s office can also help ease your anxiety. You can play games on your phone or carry your earphones to listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. Alternatively, you can carry a stress ball to squeeze away the uneasiness. You can also request the dentist to turn on the television beforehand during your visit.
4. Ask The Dentist To Administer Nitrous Oxide
Dentists have used nitrous oxide for a long time to ease patients’ tension and help them relax before a procedure. It’s also known as the laughing or happy gas. You could ask your dentist to administer nitrous oxide. However, before doing so, conduct thorough research to understand the happy gas further.
Your dentist will fit a mask over your face to administer nitrous oxide. You’ll breathe in the gas and start feeling the effects. You’ll remain awake, but your mind will be off your fears, and you’ll be more relaxed. Also, you can speak and hear what your dentist says. Even so, the gas has an amnesiac effect, meaning you might not remember much about your appointment when nitrous oxide wears off.
In some cases, laughing gas might not be effective for some patients. Dentists will recommend other techniques to ease anxiety, such as those mentioned in this article.
Final Thoughts
If you struggle with dental anxiety, don’t let it prevent you from accessing oral health care. This isn’t something to worry about since many other adults also battle this issue. Fortunately, this is a condition you can overcome.
This article provides some tips that could help you ease dental anxiety. As provided, you should tell your dentist about this issue, find ways to distract yourself, and try relaxation techniques. You could also ask the dentist to administer nitrous oxide if it’s possible.
