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Dental fear is a common phenomenon. Dental fear is the fear of visiting a dentist. Dental fear can cause anxiety and stress. Dental fear can negatively affect your oral health. It can prevent you from visiting the dentist to receive routine dental care. It can prevent you from seeking treatment for dental problems, which can result in the worsening of your oral health.

Discuss your fears with your dentist

Discussing your fear with your dentist is the best way to overcome it. The dentist may have experience dealing with fearful patients like you and can suggest different methods or treatments help you cope with that fear.

If the thought of going to the dentist makes you nervous or scared, you should discuss this fear with the practitioner. Tell him about it and listen to his suggestions on how you can cope with this phobia. This way, the dental team can come up with a treatment plan to help lessen your anxiety while at the clinic.

Agree on a signal

When your dentist starts a procedure you don’t like, you don’t have to suffer in silence. You can let him or her know you’re uncomfortable by simply raising your hand or nodding your head. If that doesn’t do the trick, you can speak up and request a break. Your dentist should be able to pause the procedure and clear any discomfort you’re feeling.

Bring a friend or relative for support

Support from a loved one can help ease your anxiety before and during the appointment. If your dentist does not allow you to bring your support person inside the operatory room, inform the receptionist beforehand so your friend can wait in the lobby during the procedure. A support person can also be helpful after the treatment is complete as a companion to drive you home or accompany you to the lobby while waiting for the parking area to clear. Some dentist offices offer televisions and free Wi-Fi. You can also bring a music player loaded with your favorite music to help you relax while you wait in the reception area.

Bring distractions to occupy your mind during procedures

Distractions can be anything that helps you ease your anxiety or keep you occupied during a procedure. This can be your favorite music, a book, a magazine, or even bringing someone to accompany you.

Get sedation dentistry

Sedation dentistry can be exactly what you need to get through a procedure without being anxious. Talk to your dentist about what options are best for you and your situation. This way, you can get through your next appointment without worry. This can be achieved in many ways, including medication or nitrous oxide gas. The benefit of this is that it allows the patient to be awake enough to respond to the doctor but also be relaxed enough to fall asleep if that is what they prefer. Sometimes oral medication is prescribed to take the night before a procedure to relax a nervous patient ahead of it. This way, they are more relaxed when they are in the chair. Nitrous oxide is a gas inhaled through a mask worn over the nose during a procedure. This allows for relaxation without putting a patient to sleep. Many adults prefer this to other forms of sedation because it wears off quickly once the procedure is over and they are able to safely drive home. When discussing your options for sedation with your dental care provider, make sure to inform them of your concerns so they can guide you to a care plan that meets your specific needs.

Please reach out to our dental practice at 3121 Springbank Ln Ste D Charlotte, NC 28226, to consult with our dentists, Drs. Jeffrey S. Kleinheinz. Call the dentist in Charlotte, NC, at (704) 542-6003 or schedule an online consultation, and we'll guide you further.