I don’t love going to the dentist. I’m so nervous the whole time. Then the dentist and hygienist chat the whole time with each other like I’m not even there. For some reason, that makes it even worse. Here I am getting sharp implements and drills placed in my mouth and they’re talking about the remodel they’re doing on their house. I need to go back and just the idea makes me jittery. Is there some way to get past that?
Laura
Dear Laura,
You are not alone on your fear of the dentist. However, finding the right dentist can make your visit much easier. Believe it or not, there are dentists who specifically cater to patients like you who feel anxious.
Be up front with them. The first thing they’ll do is try to find out what the triggers are for your anxiety. Maybe you are someone who needs to know exactly what they’re going to do before they do it. Others, don’t want to know anything. Just give them some headphones, let them close their eyes, listen to music and pretend they’re on a beach somewhere.
These dentists will often “advertise” as gentle dentists. They want you to know that they’ll do everything they can to put you at ease and make your appointment as stress-free as possible. They often also pride themselves on giving pain-free injections.
When Your Anxiety is Stronger
If having a gentle dentist isn’t enough. There are more options. Sometimes, you need some help to relax. Believe it or not, your anxiety can cause your anesthetic to wear off faster. That’s because anxiety increases your metabolism causing the medicine to burn off more quickly.
To help with that, your dentist can provide you with nitrous oxide. It’s sometimes dubbed laughing gas. What it does is relax you enough for your anesthetic to work more effectively.
We’re also aware that some patients have had some traumatic experiences with those sharp implements and drills. For those patients, the idea of going to the dentist is absolutely terrifying. When you have that strong of an anxiety, sedation dentistry is probably what you need.
However, this is so strong that you’ll need to have someone to drive you to and from your appointment. You’ll be quite loopy. Most people just sleep through the appointment.
The key to all of this is for you to meet with a dentist who cares about your anxiety.
This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.