Wondering what to do about your dental anxiety? Only those who experience this common type of anxiety can fully understand how it makes them feel completely helpless. This is why choosing an experienced dentist who knows how to deal with dental patients who experience any level of anxiety is a great idea.
Not all dentists understand how to help their anxious patients, making it essential that you find one who does so you can be sure to make it to all of your regular dental appointments.
About dental anxiety
When the feelings of anxiousness you experience either thinking about going to the dentist or actually walking into a dental office become so overwhelming that you cannot make it to your regular dental appointments, you need help. Finding a compassionate dentist who understands is recommended, as they will know exactly what to do to help you.
Overcoming dental anxiety
As anyone suffering from dental anxiety knows, it is not an easy task to overcome this overwhelming feeling of anxiety. Some of the more common symptoms associated with dental-related anxiety include a fear of pain, a fear of needles, a fear of dental equipment, fear of gagging, fear of medications not working as they are supposed to and an overall fear of the dental office.
A number of tried-and-true tips for dental patients who are dealing with dental anxiety include listening to relaxing music, using hand signals to let the dentist know to stop, taking anxiety-reducing medication and using a throat spray to help prevent gagging. One of the newer options patients are encouraged to try involves listening to a guided meditation while the dental procedure is being performed.
Guided meditation apps
Today’s world is one that uses a lot of technology. Apps are a product of this technology and touch on many different topics. Many apps focus on how to help people calm down, which uses a number of meditation and relaxation techniques. These calming apps can be very beneficial for dental patients who are experiencing any level of anxiety. They require listeners to follow the guided meditation exercises, which often includes deep breathing and self-hypnosis.
Guided imagery allows patients to be taken to a place in their mind that lets them feel safe and secure. There are many guided meditation apps to choose from, giving patients the options they want as guided apps tend to be very personalized. Examples of titles which could be helpful to search for include "Guided meditation for a visit to the dentist" and "Breath meditation".
Ready to overcome your dental anxiety?
We completely understand how debilitating dental anxiety can be. That is why our caring dental team makes it a point to be available to answer any questions you may have. In order for you to experience good oral health, you must make it to your regular dental appointments. We invite you to contact our office today to schedule an appointment for a consultation.
Request an appointment here: https://beniciadentist.com or call Southampton Dental Care at (707) 887-5075 for an appointment in our Benicia office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
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