Maintaining healthy teeth and gums does more than ensure a strong and beautiful smile. Proper routine dental care also helps lower the risks of developing many serious diseases, including certain cancers, heart problems, and diabetes. However, patients who struggle with dental anxiety may fail to stick with a regular cleaning and checkup schedule. As a result, these people are more likely to face decay, gum disease, and the need for extensive dental work. Fortunately, there are ways to treat dental anxiety, reduce symptoms, and experience a less stressful visit to the dentist office.
There are many simple ways to alleviate anxiety during a dental checkup. These tips can help patients feel more calm during visits.
For some people, the fear of pain or embarrassment from unhealthy teeth and gums can be avoided with proper home care practices. Patients should strive to brush at least twice a day, floss once, and use a mouthwash occasionally to help kill unwanted bacteria. As a result, patients can experience less swelling, tenderness, and bleeding during a cleaning while enjoying better oral health as well.
Patients with dental anxiety can benefit from making a detailed list of all of their fears before making an appointment for routine dental care. This can help pinpoint the true source of the anxiety for better preparation. As well, by sharing this list with the dentist, a customized treatment plan may be created to meet the patient’s needs.
Some dental offices focus on helping patients overcome dental phobias. Many of the staff members in these locations can offer a more gentle and kind approach for sensitive patients. The offices may also be equipped with upgrades to help patients feel more at ease.
Meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises can all help a person feel more calm during a stressful situation. By mastering these practices ahead of time, patients can utilize them at any time during an appointment to reduce anxiety symptoms.
Many people find that it is helpful to listen to calming music or a funny podcast when visiting the dentist. Arriving early can give a patient more time to relax while sitting in the waiting room. It is a good idea to start listening during this time. Then, when the patient transitions into the room for treatment, they are already distracted and more at ease, and can continue to listen throughout the duration of the appointment.
Dental anxiety is a relatively common condition. However, if severe anxiety is getting in the way of routine dental care, it is important to take action to reduce and prevent symptoms. Patients who are still unable to cope may need to seek out therapy options so that proper oral health can be maintained.
Request an appointment here: https://www.cottrellsmilesva.com or call Richard Cottrell, DDS & Associates at (540) 808-1303 for an appointment in our King George office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Routine Dental Care in King George, VA.
The importance of a dental exam often gets ignored. It can be easy to skip check-up appointments as life can get busy and most individuals think that at-home oral hygiene is enough to maintain healthy teeth and gums. However, this misconception is far from the truth. Dental exams give general dentists the opportunity to look at…
General dentistry consists of a lot of routine oral health care, which also happens to include restoring teeth that are in bad shape due to damage. Common damage may include cracks, chips, or cavities, all of which can be addressed with the help of different dental restorations. Continue reading to find out what dental restoration…
A general dentist performs most of the treatments commonly used in dentistry. These oral professionals spend most of their time performing preventative treatments, like tooth cleanings, but they also perform more complex treatments, like root canals. A general dentist also serves as an educator, teaching patients how to properly take care of their teeth and…
Considering cosmetic dental work from a general dentist? Although cosmetic dentistry is its own field, general dentists also offer an array of procedures that can be used to improve the way that the teeth look. There are a lot of different procedures that can be performed in a general dentistry setting. Keep reading to find…
The dentist will do a full dental checkup, including digital X-rays, to ensure that the…
Dermal fillers are particularly popular for their effectiveness in softening wrinkles, lines, and folds that…
If you have recently gotten braces from the family dentist, you will probably be aware…
Trusting your smile to a dentist is a big commitment, so choosing the right type…
Extractions are typically recommended when other options are not enough to solve a patient’s problems.
Because Invisalign® is removable, wearers are encouraged to keep the actual piece in for 22…
