Dentists: Common Ways to Help You Relax During Your Visit

Although you have a ton of reasons why you should go to see dentists, it can still be extremely frustrating and scary if you have a phobia about seeing these types of doctors. Things like the sound of the drill, scary tools and an overall fear of having someone work in your mouth can just about send you over the edge. Regardless, it’s important to go see this type of doctor on a regular basis to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy. Explore a few common techniques and tricks people use to relax at a visit.

Distract yourself

Even though it may seem strange, it’s possible to try to change your focus or distract yourself when in a dentists’ office. That’s because one of the main issues people have when going to this appointment is the sound of the drills and other instruments that make them nervous. One good way to distract yourself is to wear earplugs during the ordeal. This can help to really drown out noise so you can concentrate on more positive things. Better yet, try to listen to music so that you can really distract yourself. Also, if for some reason you do not have access to anything, explain your fears to your doctor and maybe he or she can talk to you about something totally non-related to dentistry to help you keep your mind off things.

Make sure the doctor is skilled

Another big factor in a person’s fear is that they’re worried about whether or not the person working in their mouth is qualified or experienced enough to handle drills, needles and other instruments. That’s why it is essential that you do your research regarding dentists. It’s a good idea to start with people you trust such as friends and family that already see experienced professionals. This way, you’ll get that first-hand account of how a typical visit can go and what you should expect. Usually, a patient’s fears deal with the fear of the unexpected. If you have a lot of information ahead of time, this can really minimize your frustration. Also, it’s never a bad idea to confirm dentists’ credentials and education.
Knowing your doctor graduated from an accredited college, is licensed to practice dentistry and has at least a decade of experience isn’t too much to ask. While there is nothing wrong with new people fresh out of school, you may want someone that is more experienced with dentistry as well as dealing with patients.

Do breathing exercises

Deeply breathing can calm just about anyone down. So if for some reason you get to the dentists’ office and you start getting really scared and nervous, remember to breathe. Try to get control of yourself and deeply inhale in and out. Do it as many times as you have to until you start feeling yourself calm down. This is really important since plenty of people get so tense that they hold their breath, and hyperventilate or pass out from such anxiety.