Various Ways To Overcome Dental Fears

Like many, perhaps you suffer from dental anxiety. You wouldn’t be the only one – roughly 36% of Americans fear dentistry. Still, you don’t have to endure this issue in silence. It’s possible to overcome dental fears with the proper actions. That way, you could receive crucial care that improves your teeth and gums. As for the details, your local dentist will happily explain. Read on to learn four great ways to manage and reduce your dental anxiety.

Try Meditation & Muscle Relaxation

As you might know, anxiety can worsen when you’re left to yourself. (For example, sitting in a dentist’s waiting room might prompt you to worry.) In such cases, try meditation and muscle relaxation to reduce your stress.

The meditative process is pretty simple. Once seated, simply close your eyes or fix them on an object. You should then allow your body to relax fully. In doing so, note the different body parts and try to release their tension. Ideally, start with your head and move down to your feet.

Use Breathing Exercises

When anxious, many people take shallow breaths. However, this way of breathing only elevates your stress levels. At your next dental visit, then, use deep breathing exercises.

You see, deep breathing exercises relax your mind. They thus reduce stress during dental care. To start, you just close your eyes and slowly inhale through your nose. After holding your breath for a few seconds, you exhale through your mouth. If you repeat these steps several times, you’ll feel calmer in no time.

Ask Lots of Questions

Often, dental anxiety stems from a fear of the unknown. That being the case, one way to ease it is by asking your dentist relevant questions.

In particular, find out more about the treatment you need. Having the details will help you know what to expect. As an example, you may want to learn which instruments the service will use. Well, feel free to ask the dental team! They’ll gladly address your concerns and inspire confidence in their work.

Consider Dental Sedation

If all else fails, you can always add sedation dentistry to the mix. This option uses sedatives to keep you calm during a dental procedure.

There are three main forms of sedation dentistry. The first is nitrous oxide sedation, which has a patient inhale nitrous oxide gas to relieve mild anxiety. Next, there’s oral conscious sedation – a stronger choice that reduces fears via medication. IV sedation is the final type, relying on an IV to administer a sedative into your bloodstream.

As you can see, there are methods to overcome dental anxiety. Consider the ones listed above for your next treatment. Otherwise, talk to your local dentist for other helpful approaches!