Dental Anxiety

If you have dental anxiety, it’s vital to choose a dentist who will listen and acknowledge your fears.

Seek recommendations from family and friends. You could also do some research online. Ensure you feel comfortable with this dentist before booking any treatments. If you’re not happy, try someone else. Identify your fear. Once you know exactly what you’re fearful about, you can start working towards a solution.

1. Speak up 

•  Tell your dentist about your anxiety.  Share any bad experiences you may have had in the past, and ask for suggestions on coping strategies. Your dentist and dental team are better able to treat you if they know your needs.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Sometimes knowing what is going to happen alleviates any fears of the unknown. 
• Agree on a signal. Let your dentist know by raising your hand if you need to take a break during an exam. 

2. Distract yourself 

• Wear headphones. If the sound of the drill bothers you, bring headphones so you can listen to your favorite music or audiobook.
• Occupy your hands by squeezing a stress ball or playing with a small handheld object, like a fidget spinner. 
• Imagine your happy place and visualize yourself at a relaxing beach or garden. 

3. Use mindfulness techniques 

• Focus on breathing regularly and slowly during dental procedures. When people are nervous they tend to hold their breath, which decreases oxygen levels and further increases feelings of panic. As in some meditation techniques, a focus on slow, regular breathing helps reduce stress levels.
• Feel gratitude for your teeth and for your access to good care. Research shows that people who practice gratitude are more optimistic, healthier, get better sleep, and, in turn, experience less anxiety.
• Do a body scan. Concentrate on relaxing your muscles, one body part at a time. Start with your head and work your way down to your toes. For example, you can focus on releasing tension starting in your forehead, then your cheeks, your neck and down the rest of your body.

The team at Dr Jenkins' Dental office in Evansville, IN are compassionate about making your dental visit as comfortable as possible.