Visiting the dentist for regular annual visits is an important part of maintaining your oral health. Your dentist can also evaluate your overall health by looking at what is going on in your mouth. If you deal with a fear of going to the dentist, you may be missing out on the necessary treatment of overall health and dental issues.
Dental anxiety can affect people of all ages. From children to seniors, being afraid of the dentist chair is a common issue. Most dental clinics do everything they can to help their patients deal with their anxiety if they can convince them to come into the office. Avoiding dental check-ups because of your fears could end up costing you more in the end.
Annual dental visits are just as crucial as your regular ENT appointments at the Helix Hearing Care Clinic. Ignoring your oral health or canceling upcoming appointments due to your anxiety can cause you to miss essential treatments. Thankfully, there are several strategies that can help you manage your fears. Let’s look at a few ways to deal with your dental anxiety.
Communicate Your Fears
Dentists are familiar with the fears that plague many of their patients. If you are hesitating to keep your annual dental appointment, it’s time to talk to your dentist. They can help you feel more comfortable coming into the office and getting the proper treatment. Your dentist will walk through each step of your treatment, answer any questions you have, and address all your concerns. If you are fearful of going to the dentist, don’t hesitate to share your anxiety with your dentist.
Bring Support
Getting support from a family member or friend may ease some of your fears of making your dental appointment. Ask your dentist about having a support member with you as you go through your appointment. In many cases, just the presence of a friendly face can help you get through your appointment with more comfort.
Anxiety Medication
If you have moderate to severe dental anxiety, you can talk to your dentist about medications that will help you through your appointment. You may be prescribed a short-term anxiety medication like Xanax or Valium to help you relax before your visit. For more severe cases, you may get conscious sedation medication taken a few hours before your appointment to help you feel relaxed but awake during your appointment.
General Anesthesia
For severe dental anxiety, you may have the choice to be put under sedation during your procedure. You will be fully asleep while in the dentist’s chair. Not all clinics are equipped to safely administer this type of sedation outside of a hospital, so discuss this option with your dentist prior to making your appointment.
If you have anxiety about going to the dentist and have been avoiding making an appointment, you could be risking your oral health. An annual dental visit can help you to maintain good overall health and allow your dentist to spot more minor issues before they become a problem. Talk openly to your dentist about your fears and discuss what your options exist to help you be more comfortable. Don’t let your fear stop you from getting the dental care you need.
