How to cope with dentist anxiety

If you're scared of going to the dentist, don't worry, you're not alone. While you may not look forward sitting in your dentist's chair, you can't let that get in the way of making your routine visits, and in fact, you can overcome your fears. By avoiding the dentist with your preventative cleanings, your dental issues can escalate, so it's best to stay on top of your oral health to keep problems at bay.

Why people fear the dentist

The cause of anxiety will differ from person to person, but here are some common causes:

- Pain : nobody wants to experience pain; patients may worry that their visit will cause pain.

- Experience : you may have had a bad experience at the dentist in your past and fear that future appointments will have the same outcome.

- Embarassment : if you're worried that your teeth or gums aren't in good shape, you may avoid the dentist because you're embarassed at the state of your oral health. But by avoiding the dentist, you're only putting yourself at greater risk for oral health problems.

So how can you cope with your fear to get the care you need? Check out our tips.

Talk to your dental team

Accept your phobia and explain your reservations to your dental team. By being open and honest about your anxiety, your dentist and hygienist have the chance to ease your fears, working with you to come up with a plan to make you feel comfortable and relaxed.

Sedation dentistry

Through sedation dentistry, your dentist may administer a calming sedative to help keep you calm, which may include a local anesthetic, IV or oral sedation, or laughing gas. Talk to your dentist to see what options he or she offers and what may be best for you.

Distraction, distraction, distraction

Many dentist offices offer great forms of distraction, from televisions and music. Talk to your team before your appointment to see what they offer, and feel free to bring your own headphones and music for a comforting distraction during your appointment.

Bring a friend

Have a friend or family member come with you for moral support; you can even see if your dentist buddy can come in the room with you for a calming presence.

Lasting thoughts

What are your fears about the dentist? What are your best coping mechanisms? Share them with us below!