Dental anxiety is an issue faced by many patients young and old alike. It can take many forms and can have detrimental effects on your relationship with your dentist. But what is dental anxiety? And how can you avoid it? Our team at Strathcona Dental Works believe that your dental visits should always be pleasant and relaxed. That is why we offer our leading tips on how to calm your dental anxiety for your next visit with your dentist.
Before we discuss what your options are let’s make sure we understand what symptoms can be associated with dental anxiety.
Dental anxiety symptoms
Do you get nervous at the thought of going to see the dentist? Or perhaps you find yourself having trouble sleeping at night before a dental appointment? Maybe even a fear of pain? These are by far the most common feelings associated with fear of the dentist amongst adults. All of these symptoms can have profound long term effects on people, such as cases where dental check ups from childhood have left a lasting impression around fear of the dentist. There are even cases of severe phobia which can lead some people to get physically ill. Although these cases are rare they do occur and can be treated with the right treatment plan.
Tools to dealing with symptoms
First, the key to coping with these feelings is to speak with your dentist. Your dentist will be able to discuss what alternative treatments you may need in case of severe phobia and dental anxiety. There are many options offered to you but the first step is communication with your dentist. Once they are aware of your particular problem, they can work with you to decide on what tools may be needed to cope with such feelings of anxiety. These can range from having a support system to sedation dentistry.
Our aim is to make sure that our clients are as comfortable visiting our clinic as possible. We are here to help and encourage all of our clients to speak with our amazing team to discover what best suits them. We look forward to seeing you and getting you smiling and feeling your best!
