Are you an anxious patient? Tips for managing dental anxiety from Illuminada Dental Group, your Oliver Dentist on Jasper Ave, Edmonton
At Illuminada Dental, we strive to maintain a safe, supportive and comfortable environment for all of our patients to receive their dental care. We understand that going to the dental can bring up feelings of fear or anxiety for many people. Whether it’s a phobia you’ve always had, or if you had a past traumatic experience with a dentist, we will do what we can to help you feel as relaxed as possible during your visit. Below are some tips and tricks that you can use to help manage your anxiety as well.
- Talk it out. If you know that going to the dentist makes you anxious, let us know before your visit. That way, we will know what to expect and can take extra measures to keep you comfortable. Once you’re in the middle of a treatment, addressing your anxiety can be more challenging. We can provide oral medications 30 minutes prior to your appointment if you feel that anxiety will be an issue.
- Use your own stress management techniques. If you practice deep breathing, find music or aromatherapy to be calming, talk to us about using those techniques during your appointment. We will accommodate whatever you would like to use during your treatment whenever possible.
- Don’t wait until there’s a problem to visit us. Many patients hold off on going to the dentist because of their anxiety. However, doing so will cause small problems to worsen, which will require more aggressive treatment later on. This will simply affirm the patient’s belief that going to the dentist is unpleasant. By maintaining regular visits for checkups and cleanings, you will help keep conditions like gingivitis and cavities at bay. Your dentist will be able to catch any potential problems before they become more serious.
For some patients, their phobia of the dentist is so intense that sedation dentistry is required for a safe and comfortable visit. Whatever your level of anxiety is, please feel free to speak to a member of our friendly dental team to learn what the best options are for you.