Anxiety and The Dentist
- Posted on: Mar 15 2019
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Does fear get in the way of your ability to have a brighter smile or a healthier mouth? Some people are unable to take advantage of all that we can offer their dental health because they let fear get in the way, and they end up cancelling their appointment. But, did you know that there are things we can do to help you overcome the fear and anxiety you have about dental visits?
If you’re anxious about visiting the dentist, let us know before your visit, or even right when you come in for your appointment. We can make sure to go over what we’re going to do, and even take a little more time to answer questions you may have about what is going on with your teeth. Often, understanding a little more and feeling in control can help calm anxiety. If you’re still hesitant to see your Simi valley dentist, you may want to ask for something that can help make you feel a little more relaxed.
Biology of Fear
Our biology makes our fear heighten our overall awareness, and it’s probably very useful when we feel vulnerable walking around at night in a dark alley. But, that fear makes visits at the dentist seem more intense than they normally would feel. Fear will just lead you to experience every little thing more intensely than if you were calm, and feelings of pain may actually increase when you’re fearful. Yes, your pain threshold goes down when you’re nervous. If you find yourself so anxious that you avoid seeing the dentist, we may be able to help you by discussing your treatment more completely.
Things you may want to try to reduce your anxiety include asking a lot of questions so you are aware of what will happen during your treatment, looking into anxiety medication, or talking to a mental health professional who can help you overcome your anxiety. In some cases, we may be able to provide nitrous oxide to help with feelings of anxiety.
Once you are comfortable, we will properly numb the area we are working on in your mouth, ensuring that your procedure is pain free. If you feel you may need more assistance, you can let us know when you are discussing your treatment plan. If you want to learn more about how we can help, give us a call at (805) 584-1194 today.
Posted in: Sedation Dentistry