It’s thought that around one in seven British adults is frightened of going to see the dentist (LINK: https:// www.dentaly.org/en/dental-facts-statistics/). For many people, even the idea of walking into the surgery, sitting in the chair and opening their mouth can be unbearable. However, it is important to book and attend regular check-ups in order to ensure good oral hygiene and to help the dentist spot any problems that could be brewing in your mouth, from cavities to gum diseases or even serious infections and medical conditions. It is important to relax at the dentist’s office.
That’s all very well, you may be saying to yourself right now, but how can someone with a full-blown dental phobia begin to consider booking an appointment for even a routine check-up? There are many ways in which a considerate dental practice can help nervous patients relax at the dentist and feel more confident about attending an appointment. Additionally, there are some things that patients can do at home to help themselves prepare.
Planning for your dental appointment needs to start well in advance of the day itself. If yours is an extreme fear, you might consider a course of therapy to help you get into the right mindset to attend. If you don’t feel that this is the right course of action for you, other ideas for how to relax at the dentist could include visualising how you want the appointment to go in your mind. Close your eyes, find a quiet place to sit or lie down and work your way mentally through the entire process from start to finish, imagining everything going as smoothly as possible. Map out your journey to and from the clinic and ask someone to come with you if you are worried about going to the dentist alone.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask your dentist for help and advice in advance for your appointment. They will be very used to looking after nervous patients! Your dentist may be able to talk you through your concerns over the phone or exchange messages via email to answer any questions. They might recommend a video for you to watch, or a website to visit. If you are worried about undergoing a more complex procedure than a simple check-up, you may be able to arrange some kind of sedation, hypnotism or other help.
If you know that you will need to have work done that could be invasive or uncomfortable, think about the end results. These could be getting rid of dental pain that has been there for a while or having a tooth taken out that is stopping you from eating properly. If you are having a cosmetic procedure, e.g. teeth whitening or having a brace fitted, focus on the end results and your newly aligned mouth or brighter smile. Plan a treat for after your appointment to give you something fun to look forward to.
On the day, make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes that you can walk in and loose, cool clothes. Have a good, healthy breakfast, unless you have been told not to eat or drink beforehand. Arrive at the dental practice in good time, but not so early that you have too much time to build up anxiety while you wait for your turn. Let the receptionist know that you are anxious – they may let you wait somewhere quieter. Always brush your teeth beforehand and use mouthwash. This not only makes life more pleasant for the dental team who will be looking after you, but it will give you more confidence to open your mouth for the appointment. Bring along some relaxing music to listen to – you may be able to use your headphones for this or ask the dentist to play it over their speakers.
If it is a child who is nervous, follow all of the above, but make sure that you remain as calm as possible when around them. They could pick up on any signs that you are worried and this will make them feel worse. Let them choose a favourite soft toy to bring with them. Always be honest about what is going to happen, but use age-appropriate language that will not alarm them. Bring them to check-up appointments regularly so that they get used to coming to see the dentist and learn how to look after their teeth.
