Dental anxiety can cause serious mental health issues in adults as well as children. The fear of visiting the dentist can be a very traumatic experience for some individuals. You can speak to your dentist and find out ways in which you can overcome this fear.

Choose your dentist wisely

People often choose a dentist based on the convenience of location or recommendations made by friends and family. While these reasons are enough for most people, those who suffer from dental anxiety need to do some research before booking appointment with a new dentist. It is important to speak with the dentist and explain to them about possible stress you might have regarding the appointment and concerns about the procedures. Specialist who are working only on specific types of cases like Root canal treatment, orthodontics, gum diseases, etc, may not be able to give enough time to individual cases that require longer appointment time and a slow and calm strategy. A family dentist is ideal in such cases. They can schedule appointments at your convenience and guide you through the entire procedure to make the treatment a pleasant experience.

Schedule a visit just to get to know the environment and the staff

This is a very good idea for people who experience dental treatment anxiety. Try to schedule a pre-treatment visit just to meet the dental staff, speak with the dentist and get yourself familiar with the environment. This is particularly helpful in case of young children. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that you bring your child to the dentist within six months of their first teeth developing and by age one at the latest. Starting dental visits at a young age lets the parents and the child get comfortable with the staff and the setting. Just like how children visit the pediatrician for regular checkup and review, the visit to the dentist should also be arranged periodically.

Speak positively about dental treatment

There is enough negative propaganda surrounding dental treatment, portrayed in the media. Tales of horror experiences with their dentist, are often told by friends and family. Anxious people have strong pre-conceived notions about what might happen during a dental visit. This is even more so in case of a child who listens to negative words such as "pain" or "shot" being spoken about dental treatment. Be mindful around children when speaking about their upcoming appointment. Focus on using positive words such as “clean, strong, healthy teeth” that can set the tone for a positive experience.

Stay calm and plan your visit

On the day of the scheduled appointment, try to calm your mind using techniques such as guided meditation, light exercise, walk in the park, etc. It is important to keep a positive frame of mind and accept the treatment as a part of overall well being. In case of children, try to use positive reinforcement. In select cases, a trained and certified dentist can use therapies such as hypnosis or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to calm the patient. You can speak with your dentist regarding these and understand more about how you can benefit from them. With children, it is especially important to make the visit a day you spend with each other. After the procedure, reward them with a visit to the zoo or going to the park or watching a movie. It is also a good idea to schedule the appointment at a time and day when it can be a pleasant experience, like when there is less traffic, and low work load or school holidays.

While there are some dental procedures that require multiple visits and long duration, most treatments can be done in short visits and with absolutely no pain or discomfort. In either case, it is essential to speak to your dentist about how you feel regarding each procedure and come up with a plan that works best for you.

Citation

Seligman LD, Hovey JD, Chacon K, Ollendick TH (July 2017). "Dental anxiety: An understudied problem in youth". Clinical Psychology Review. 55: 25–40.

Anthonappa RP, Ashley PF, Bonetti DL, Lombardo G, Riley P (2017). "Non-pharmacological interventions for managing dental anxiety in children". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Moore R (1991). The Phenomenon of Dental Fear - Studies in Clinical Diagnosis, Measurement and Treatment (Ph.D. thesis). Fællestrykeriet, Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark.