How to Get Dental Care if You Have Anxiety?
Many people find it difficult to receive care due to fear or anxiety of the dental office and the treatments your dentist provides. Our dentist at Sedation Dentistry of San Jose wants his patients to remain comfortable when maintaining the health of their smile. This is why he has provided steps patients may take within a dental practice for them to perform when they feel uneasy about their treatment. This can help patients with dental anxiety feel more at ease when in the dentist’s chair and be less apprehensive to receiving the dental care they need.
Communicate with Your Dentist
If your dentist does not know certain aspects of your treatment make you uncomfortable, they can never take precautionary measures to avoid certain actions or sounds. If you fear specific sights, sounds, or you have a sensitive gag reflex your dental care professional can be considerate and offer amenities or techniques to create a better environment for you. Headphones are a common recommendation for patients who tend to cringe at the sound of dental instruments, as can make the dentist’s tools inaudible. Before beginning a dental service, your dentist should thoroughly explain what is going to happen, so there are no surprises.
Take a Break
Set up a signal with your dentist to let them know when you would like to pause treatment and take a breather. By establishing a system such as raising your hand meaning you wish for a break, can make you more comfortable when undergoing long appointment times. Splitting up these extensive procedures into shorter times with less work involved helps curb the anxiety you may feel when receiving more complex care. Telling your dentist you need to pause or stop allows the both of you to confidently move forward with treatment, in a more relaxed mind set.
Don’t Focus on What Makes Your Uncomfortable
Learning or focusing on breathing techniques are shown to help minimize dental phobia. There are patients who worry so much about what their dentist is doing; they have irregular and harsh breathing patterns. This can make some people gag or increase the worry they feel when in the dentist’s chair. When feeling extra frightful about your dental treatment, try closing your eyes and concentration on your breathing. This really helps patient calm down the physical responses associated with anxiety.
For more information on how to calm your dental anxiety, contact Sedation Dentistry of San Jose today! Dr. Tom Clark relieves patients’ dental fears and puts their minds at ease by administering gentle and high-quality treatment.