ANXIETY & THE DENTIST'S CHAIR

Why we have it and how to ease it

We all know that one person who is absolutely terrified of going to the dentist.

​When they eventually go, they tell you it wasn’t that bad, but they would rather have a root canal than a regularly scheduled cleaning because “it’s less intrusive.” 

For those of us blessed with sensitive teeth and gums, sitting through a regular cleaning is not always the easiest. Most dentists and their staff, however, are very good at easing a patient’s anxiety. You just have to make sure they are aware of it.

At Lakeport Dental, we offer a variety of comprehensive and preventive dental services for patients of all ages. We know that a visit to us can bring on an anxiety attack, so we do our best to get to know you beforehand, so we’ll know how to handle it. Anxiety regarding a dentist’s visit is so common, just about everyone suffers some level of discomfort even thinking about it. There are many causes to this anxiety, from something that happened during childhood to pain during a previous procedure, or the feeling you are not in control, or even the noise and smell of a dentist’s office. Since we don’t want you to neglect your tooth and mouth health, there are a few tips we can offer that may help to ease your anxiety:

•     Communicate your situation to us before your visit. Speak to one of our staff members and let us know what to expect, so we can help you through it.

•     Many people feel anxiety due to instruments that make noise, such as a dental drill. If this is the case, using earplugs or wearing earphones may help. Bring your own music device and play your favourite, relaxing music, or listen to an audiobook during your visit.

•     Ask your dental hygienist for an explanation as to the instruments he or she will be using during a cleaning. Seeing the instruments and knowing how they will be used may give you a feeling of being in control, which can ease your anxiety.

•     Discuss a “please stop!” signal to use with your dentist or hygienist. Often, a simple hand raise can let us know you need a break.

•     If a lengthy procedure is required, ask if it can be broken down into small, manageable time frames. This may help ease your anxiety over each visit, since you know it won’t take too long.

•     Bring someone you trust with you to your visit. Sometimes having company can be distracting enough that your anxiety dissipates.

•     Try practicing some relaxation techniques, such as controlled breathing or meditation.

•     Ask us about sedatives that might be used during your procedure. If needles are required, we can explain how they will be used and where, so you won’t be surprised when you see the dentist produce them.

Remember, we are here to help! At Lakeport Dental, we want you to have the best possible smile - it’s your best feature! If you have questions please give us a call at 905-934-0235.