From Fear to Calm: Overcoming Dental Anxiety

If fear or worry is keeping you or friends and family from dental visits, you are not alone! Dental anxiety, or dental fear, is estimated to affect approximately 36% of the population.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety, in general, is our body's natural response to anticipating danger or catastrophe. While normal anxiety helps people prepare for difficult challenges, sometimes anxiety can involve persistent fear that interferes with daily life.

Why are people scared of the dentist?

Dental anxiety can come from several places and experiences. For example, having had a previous unpleasant dental experience or hearing of someone else's poor experience can create stress, anxiety and fear.

• Fear of needles and injections: Many people have a phobia of 'shots', particularly when used in the mouth.
• Loss of control: People may feel helpless or restless sitting in a chair with dental 'tools' around their mouth.
• Sensory issues: Sounds associated with dental procedures can make some patients with anxiety feel uneasy and stressed.

Patients with extreme dental anxiety may delay their dental appointments, or worse, not see a dentist at all. This can mean that those with serious dental emergencies, like a broken tooth or a long-term toothache, may decide to live with the pain rather than seek treatment. Dental problems that are not addressed early can become worse over time, leading to more extensive and expensive treatments. Delays can also affect our general health and wellbeing.

How can you cope with dental anxiety, and what can we do to help?

It is important to keep in mind that dental anxiety can be managed so you can have a relaxed dental procedure. Here are some tips you can use to prepare for your next dental appointment:

• Schedule your dental appointments for a time when you are not going to be rushed or concerned about other commitments, such as picking up children from school, or attending to a business matter.
• Next, an essential step in dealing with dental anxiety is talking with us. We've treated many people in similar situations and can help you manage your stress and fears. Be sure to tell our receptionist about your anxiety when you schedule your appointment and when you arrive for treatment, be sure to discuss it again with Dr. Kay or your dental hygienist and dental assistant. Depending on how severe your anxiety is, we can use sedation options, such as nitrous oxide ('laughing gas') or an oral sedative to help you relax during a procedure.
• Arrive a few minutes ahead of your appointment time and try to use mindfulness techniques before the appointment. This includes deep-breathing exercises to help relieve muscle tension, lower your heart rate, and relax your mind, helping you feel calmer. Close your eyes and slowly inhale through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, and then slowly exhale through your mouth.
• During your treatment, you can distract yourself by listening to your favourite music, a podcast, or an audiobook. You can also use a stress ball or a small handheld object to keep your hands occupied. Our office is equipped with television screens with access to a variety of programming, so let us know your viewing preferences - or bring your own!

Developing Positive Attitudes Toward Dental Treatment

Developing a positive attitude toward dental treatment is essential to avoiding the development of dental anxiety and is best begun at a young age. It is important that young children develop positive attitudes early on so that a visit to the dental office does not cause fear or anxiety.

A child's first dental visit should be by age 1, or once all the baby teeth have erupted, and typically, twice a year thereafter. When preparation for that first visit is pleasant, there is a much greater chance that the child will not develop dental anxiety. Kay Dental can provide guidelines for preparing young children for that first visit and for subsequent appointments to make them positive experiences.

Dental anxiety is more common than many people realize, and it often grows from past negative experiences. Older adults might have unpleasant memories of distant dental treatments and not realize how much dental treatments have evolved over the years.

The good news is that modern dentistry offers a wide range of options designed with comfort in mind, from clear communication and gentle techniques to reduce anxiety. Contact us if dental anxiety has kept you from seeking dental care - we are here to help!

Resources:

• https://www.oda.ca/oral-health-basics/oral-health-risk-factors/stress-and-anxiety/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5586885/