The first thing that you need to know is that almost everybody has anxiety about going to the dentist. It’s very normal. The best thing to do is to talk to your dentist about it. Your family dentist at 32pearls knows that anxiety is on top of most patient’s minds, and they have a plan to help you overcome your anxiety. Have trust that you are in the hands of competent professionals that want to make you feel better. “Be a patient, patient.” Your dentist will love you.
5 Ways to Overcome your Anxiety When Going to the Dentist
- Educate yourself about your procedure- Asking questions to your dentist and the staff before the procedure is excellent. Your dentist wants you to know what is going on. You are not bothering them. You are paying them to tell you everything that is happening. The more you know, the least amount of stress you will have. There are tons of articles on these common procedures online, at the office and on the dentist’s website.
- Learn the facts about fear- People learn fear because they are basing their belief on a false reality. They may have read a scary story or saw something on TV or the Internet without any evidence that it actually happened. Remind yourself that what you are afraid of is not happening. Stay in the moment.
- No, you don’t have to be a highly spiritual yoga guru to understand that focusing on your breath will clear and calm your mind and relax your body. There is a multitude of breathing techniques online that will train you to relax no matter where you are.
- Music has been proven to calm patients. Bring your headphones and go to a concert in your mind. Classical music can be used for healing and pain relief.
- YouTube has a ton of relaxation music subliminal, relaxing beach sounds, or anything else that you can imagine. Just search for positive music hypnosis or subliminal and you might go to sleep, or you just might forget that you are at the dentist.
Before going to the dentist. Practice the 4-7-8 breathing exercise. It can be done anywhere. Do it in your car or at home. Once you get enough practice, you’ll be doing it everywhere. This exercise is actually a tranquilizer and releases your body’s natural calming chemicals. Repeat exercise 3 or 4x.
- Place your tongue on the upper ridge of your mouth
- Exhale as much air as possible out of your mouth, making a whoosh sound
- Inhale through your nose to a count of 4
- Hold your breath for a count of 7
- Exhale out of your mouth for a count of 8 with a whoosh sound
More information on this exercise plus other relaxation techniques can be found here at the website of breathing expert, Dr. Andrew Weil. MD.
Finally, use this visualization in the dentist’s chair.
Take a deep breath. Picture yourself on a warm beach. The sun is brightly shining on your face. You can hear the deep, blue ocean waves. You have nothing to do. Imagine a friend coming over to talk to you. You can ask this friend whatever you want. Practice the following breathing exercise above.
Talk to your favorite Tacoma family dentist or your Seattle family dentist for more ways to relax in their care at 32pearls.
You have control over your own thoughts and you can be a star at the dentist.
