Get Over Your Fear of Dentist - Tips to Prepare Yourself for a Dental Visit

Prepare yourself before treatment

It’s time to tackle the problem. Start with these steps before your dental treatment:

Acknowledge the issue.

You may have been avoiding your dentist for years, or you may have only recently begun to feel uncomfortable. No matter how long you have suffered from dental phobia, you need to admit to yourself that you are afraid of visiting the dentist.

Figure out why.

It could be one of the reasons listed above, or it could be something more or less complex. You can’t confront your fear until you figure out what’s causing it.

Ask yourself if You Need Help?

If you feel nervous and anxious about going to the dentist, you can probably overcome that on your own, with the tips below. But if your phobia is being caused by a deeper issue, such as PTSD, then you may need professional assistance.

Choose the Right Dentist

Do not just choose the first dentist in Sanford that you see. Before committing to an appointment, ensure that the dentist’s temperament and personality is a good fit for you. Obviously you want someone experienced and knowledgeable first and foremost. But all the expertise in the world is no good to you if you don’t like the person who is providing treatment. If you need lots of reassurance during appointments, choose someone with the patience to provide that to you. If you need someone who is great at explaining complicated procedures in layman’s terms that anyone can understand, then make sure your dentist can do that.

Meet Your Dentist Before Getting Treated

Whether you’re visiting a new dentist in Sanford for the first time, or you’re making your first appointment in a while with your old dentist, call ahead and see if you can schedule a consultation appointment. When you go in for this visit, your dentist will not perform any procedures. The two of you will discuss your fears and the work that you need done. At this time, your dentist should explain the procedures associated with getting your teeth and gums back in good health. They should also discuss any anxiety-reducing options that they offer. For example, many dentists now provide pillows and blankets, and music and/or television in their exam rooms, as well as sedation dentistry options to help you feel relaxed and calm throughout your visit. During your consultation your dentist may perform a brief oral exam, if you are comfortable enough to have this done. If not, this can be saved for your next visit. Even if you are not able to have an oral exam performed, this visit should give you the tools necessary to go to your next appointment.

Ask Questions

Before you go to your next dental visit, find out everything you need to know about what procedures need to be done, how long it will take, and anything else that crosses your mind. Often, the fear of the unknown is far worse than the reality of what will occur – so put this fear to rest by arming yourself with a complete set of knowledge about what to expect at your visit. And the questions don’t have to end there. Once you arrive for your appointment, don’t hesitate to ask questions during the exam and any procedures you’ll be undergoing.

Be Upfront About Your Dental Phobia

Here at OakportDental we know that people can be scared of coming to us, and we want to help. We won’t judge you or dismiss your fears. We will work with you to help you feel more relaxed. This may include: Talking to you during a cleaning, letting you see the dental instruments before they are used -you may even want to touch or hold them to help them feel familiar- and explaining everything that will happen during your appointment before starting. When the hygienist or dentist knows your fears, they can be sure to take those fears into consideration during the appointment.

Call us today to discuss how we can help.  407-323-5340