Dental anxiety is one of the most common phobias in the world, with one out of every ten people being too scared to visit the dentist. Of course, there are also lots of people who suffer from mild dental anxiety, where although they become incredibly stressed out and anxious at the thought of going to the dentist, they still go. Dental anxiety is a problem that needs to be tackled in the right way because otherwise, it can have a significant impact on yours’ and your children’s health.
You see, children learn from their parents, so if your child sees that you’re terrified of the dentist, then they will think that there’s something to fear and will be scared too. As a parent, it’s your job to ensure that your children are not only healthy but also get all of the health checkups and care that they need. Some children develop dental anxiety because their parents have it, while others develop a fear of the dentist because of a bad dental experience that they have had in the past. I heard from a friend that Desert Creek Dental – Queen Creek directly addresses this problem by having fantastic staff to reduce anxiety in their patients by doing everything they can to accommodate and support their patients.
The good news is that no matter what the cause of yours’ or your children’s dental anxiety, you can beat it. It may take some time, but if you want to ensure that your family puts their oral health first, it’s something that’s worth doing. So how do you go about beating dental anxiety once and for all?
Finding the right dentist
One of the best ways to beat dental anxiety is to find the right dentist. The truth is that not all dentists are born equal, with some being more skilled and experienced than others. Not all dentists are sensitive to the needs of nervous patients, and it’s important to realize that. So it’s a good idea to find a dentist who is happy to treat anxious patients and is willing to be kind, caring and patient with them.
To get some recommendations for suitable dentists, asks friends, family, and co-workers who their dentist is and what he or she is like when treating them. Once you’ve been recommended someone, go online and visit their website. You may want to look into a specialists who can help anyone suffering from dental anxiety, such as sedation dentistry beaufort sc. Professionals like these are advised, as they provide the patient with a sense of safety and reassurance during any form of treatment.
See if there’s a testimonials page on there, if there is have a read of what others have said about their treatment. It could also be worth looking on independent sites for reviews, such as on Facebook. Post in a local group asking about the dentists that you’ve been recommended, and wait to see what other people say about them. That way, you should get unbiased and truthful responses.
Work out what scares you
Before you go to visit a new dentist, it’s important to work out what it is that scares you or your children. You see, if you don’t know what causes your or your little ones to feel anxious about dental checkups, it will be impossible for your dentist to help you.
If dental anxiety impacts you, think carefully about what makes you feel nervous. Is it the idea of having to have work done and the fact that it could be painful? Or, is it the idea of the dentist not taking your worries and concerns seriously? Whatever it is that scares you, don’t be afraid to share with your dentist, because if they don’t know, they can’t help you. For example, a lot of people presume that dental work will be painful, but the reality is that dental work is now relatively pain-free, thanks to advances in technology and dentistry.
If your children suffer from dental anxiety, it’s a good idea to sit down with them and ask them about what it is that scares them. Explain to your child that in order to keep their teeth healthy, they need to see the dentist a couple of times a year for a checkup. Tell them that if they talk about what it is that scares them, you can deal with it together. A lot of children just don’t like the idea of the dentist – having strange objects poked and prodded inside your mouth can be scary. Sometimes, children’s dental fear springs from the dental surgery itself. If it’s too much of a surgical space, it can scare them. That’s why a lot of parents choose to take their children to a pediatric or child-friendly dentist, to help prevent this type of fear from occurring.
Book a consultation
Once you’ve determined the cause of yours’ or your child’s dental fear, the next step is to book a consultation with the dentist of your choice. A consultation is a great way to get to know your dentist and to see what their dental practice is like. You don’t want to put this off, the longer you do, the lightly-hood of something happening is greater. If you’re already at this stage, then you could be in for treatment, some treatment may include: https://www.dentalimplantsusa.com/dental-implants/zirconia-metal-free-dental-implants/. Also, you and your children will have a chance to look around, chat with your dentist, and ask any questions that you may have.
If you suffer from dental anxiety, or your children do, a dental consultation is the perfect time to bring it up. Explain to your dentist that you or your child suffers from dental anxiety, and if possible, tell them what it is that causes this fear. If your dentist understands the root cause of the anxiety that you or your child suffers from, they can help to make any dental checkups or treatments as comfortable as possible.
Building up a rapport with your dentist before undergoing any checkups or treatment can help you to feel happier and more comfortable with your next trip to the dentist’s office. So it’s always worth booking a consultation, as it should help to keep any anxiety that you or your child has at bay.
Be careful of what you say in front of your kids
Whether your children suffer from dental anxiety or not, it’s important to be careful of what you say in front of them. Children learn from their parents, so if they hear you say that you dislike going to the dentist or are nervous about a checkup, it will make them think that there’s something to be nervous about. This is one of the most common causes of dental anxiety in children.
So it’s important to speak only positively about the dentist when your children are within earshot, to prevent them from developing dental anxiety, or to ensure that you don’t make their dental anxiety any worse.
If you’re stressed out about a trip to the dentist, it’s probably best not to take them with you, in case you struggle to hold it together while there. You never know, you may end up mentioning how nervous you are to the dentist, forgetting that your kids are with you. So instead of taking them with you, leave them with your partner or another relative while you go for a checkup or dental treatment.
Use relaxation techniques
Many dentists recommend that anxious patients try relaxation techniques to help make them feel less nervous about checkups or treatments. To calm yourself or your child before a dental checkup or treatment, deep breathing can be an effective way to calm and relax the mind and body. As can practicing meditation-based exercise, such as yoga, for instance.
To help calm patients, many dentists place distractions around their office, such as a bright and bold fish tank, for instance. Some dentists also play calming music to help their patients to stay calm and relaxed. To find out what your dentist offers to help calm nervous patients, ask them. You may find that your dentist offers mild sedatives, but as far as possible, it’s always best to avoid these.
So there you have it, everything that you need to know about how you and your children can beat dental anxiety once and for all.
