How to Manage Being Scared and Stressed at the Dentist
Nervous About Your Appointment at Pike Smiles?
If you get anxious about going to the dentist, you’re not alone. Not by a long shot. Some studies show nearly three-fourths of American adults experience anxiety or outright fear when they even think about visiting the dentist. About 1 in 10 Americans experience enough fear to classify it as a phobia.
The Importance of Dental Care:
But avoiding dental care as a result of dental anxiety can result in serious consequences for you and your teeth. Even if you’re nervous about going to the dentist, it’s extremely important to do what’s necessary to keep your mouth clean and healthy.
Creating a Comfortable Environment:
We want all of our Falls Church patients to be as comfortable as possible when they visit our office, so we do everything we can to give our guests a comfortable, calming environment. But there are a few things you can do on your own to help make your visit a little easier.
Tips for a Stress-Free Dental Visit:
Talk with Your Dentist:
- If you’re stressed about your upcoming visit to our Falls Church office, one of the best things you can do is talk with us about it.
- Having a clear understanding of what your visit will be like – even visualizing what will occur during your appointment – can do wonders.
- It’s possible we can make special accommodations to make things more comfortable for you.
Plan Your Appointment Well:
- Schedule your appointment for a day when you don’t have anything big going on outside of our office.
- Try to keep the rest of the day clear so your mind can be rested and fresh for your procedure.
Practice Deep Breathing:
- Take deep, relaxing breaths to help reduce your stress.
- Begin by taking a deep breath in, holding it for a second, and slowly letting it out.
- Continue relaxing breaths throughout your appointment.
Whatever the cause of your anxiety over a visit to our office for your cleaning or other dental procedure, we can manage it together. We want all our patients to be as comfortable as possible, and we want you to look at your visit to the dentist as a good thing. If you have any questions about a dental procedure, or if there is something we can do to ease your worry, contact us. We’ll work as a team to keep your next visit to the dentist stress-free!
