Dentista Appointment Anxiety: Using Visualization to Relax

Visualization is a technique used to deal with all types of anxiety, including those associated with a dentista appointment. The stress of an appointment could come from a past experience that was less than pleasant or it could come from stories and comments that a patient has overheard. Either way, it is important to get rid of the bad scenarios and visualize positive future experiences and outcomes. Getting Rid of the Bad Scenarios Before going to the dentista office, some patients replay bad past experiences in their mind. They imagine what it was like the last time they came in. Some think about the pain that they felt. Others think about how long the procedure took and how long they were confined to the dental chair. The first step is to stop imagining or replaying these moments over and over again. It is not easy to just put these experiences aside but to try and give the next appointment a better chance of success, it is important to put the past behind. It is not always easy to stop envisioning those moments. It takes discipline to consistently think about something else when those past experiences come to mind. However, reliving or dwelling on those moments is in no way helpful when it comes to the next dentista appointment. Visualizing a Positive Experience When thinking about the past appointments, try to imagine what an ideal appointment would be like. Think about walking into the office and being greeted by a friendly office staff member. Think about spending time in the waiting room enjoying an activity that easily passes the time. (Bring a long a book or some music to make sure that during this time in the waiting room, you are not sitting there worrying). Patients can think about sitting in the dentista chair with no pain and no frustrating. Imagine everything going well and time passing quickly. It might even help to picture a pleasant conversation with the dentista before and after the procedure. Visualizing a Positive Outcome Finally, visualize walking out of the office with positive results. If the appointment if just for teeth cleaning, think about how nice it will be to have fresh, clean teeth that have been polished and look bright. If going in for a cavity or crown, think about how nice it will be to have the problem solved. (Some people may want to imagine the feeling they get when they know they don't have to go back for another appointment any time soon.) Trying to change a person's mindset about a dental procedure is not always easy. However, it can help to get rid of the bad thoughts and try to visualize a positive experience and outcome.