A large population of Americans have some form of dental anxiety or dental phobia.
If you have bad anxiety about going to the dentist, you’re not the only one. A large population of Americans have some form of dental anxiety or dental phobia. When this fear and anxiety leads to possible delaying or canceling treatment, it can spiral into a vicious cycle of dental pain, health issues, worsened anxiety, and a more complex and expensive process for dental procedures. Here at Olney Dental, we want to help each of our patients, no matter how bad their anxiety might be. Read on to learn more about preparing for your next dental visit!
Common Dental Anxiety Signs
Having anxiety could cause different symptoms depending on the person and their level of anxiety or fear. A few of these symptoms include:
- Heart palpitations
- High blood pressure, which might lead to fainting
- Panic attacks
- High heart rate
- Extreme sweating
- Crying
- Agitation and aggressive behavior
While we can’t completely cure your levels of dental anxiety, there are plenty of tools that you could use to make your experience a good one.
Efficient Ways to Reduce Your Dental Anxiety
There are a handful of ways to cure your dental anxiety while you’re at your appointment. First, keep up with your dental care. By simplifying brushing your teeth and flossing every day, you can prevent any complex dental issues, which means fewer visits to your dentist. Communication is important! By communicating with your doctor ahead of time about each of your concerns, we can work together to make sure your appointment goes more smoothly. If anything is uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to let your dentist know about this. We will stop and take as much time as you need before we continue. Make sure you ask questions as well. Sometimes, what makes a great dental procedure scary is our lack of understanding of what occurs. Ask your dentist questions about what will happen during the visit, what you could expect after the procedures, and voice concerns that you might have. We’ll do our best to explain everything to make you feel a lot more comfortable. Focus your breathing, and meditation can also help reduce your anxiety and heart rate. These simple tools could help you relax during your dental appointment. If the sounds of drills and other dental tools are anxiety-inducing, maybe bring your headphones and put on a podcast, some music, or an audiobook to distract yourself from the noise of the dental visit.
You Can Trust Olney Dental for All of Your Dental Care Needs
For all of your oral care questions and concerns, Olney Dental has the expertise and professionalism to get them the answers they need. Olney Dental is ready to supply you with expert service in a professional environment. Schedule an appointment online today! For more information on how we can give your family the best dentist experience available, give us a call at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online. For more dental tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest.