Having an irrational fear of dentists or dental procedures is not just limited to children; many adults suffer from it too. Whether it stems from a bad experience or a painful procedure, your fear is valid, but it doesn’t have to hold you back from receiving the dental care you need. In this article, we’ll talk about how dental anxiety can be addressed by dentists helping their patients feel at ease so they can achieve their best smile and receive necessary dental care.
Open communication and trust between both parties is a must.
Before everything else, dentists and their patients need to establish rapport and build trust with each other. Dentists should be welcoming and nonjudgmental toward their patients, whereas the latter should be upfront in expressing their worries and concerns. It’s a must for dentists to be active listeners, taking note of each patient’s anxieties and concerns and understanding them fully so they can address them. This open communication goes both ways since dentists can also take time to explain each procedure to the patients and answer all their inquiries as much as they can. Hopefully, knowing how the procedure goes lessens the patients’ worries and helps make the procedure run smoother.
Dental offices should have a relaxing and comfortable ambiance.
It’s a must for dental offices to have a calm and soothing environment similar to Balwyn Dental’s offices. A welcoming atmosphere significantly decreases a patient’s anxiety. Many dental clinics are also aware that some patients suffer from dental anxiety, which is why they incorporate a few strategies to make their patients more comfortable.
Comfortable waiting area. Creating an ideal environment where the patient can relax is a must for every dental clinic. Using calming music and aromatherapy helps ease their nerves, as well as a pleasing interior décor.
Warm and welcoming staff. Another way that helps alleviate dental anxiety is through the support of warm and welcoming staff; they can create a positive vibe and give reassurance to patients whose nerves are getting the better of them.
Entertainment and other distraction techniques. One of the classic techniques of the book is distracting patients before the procedure. Let them watch a movie or listen to music to keep them distracted so that their nerves won’t be jumbled up by the time of the treatment.
Flexible scheduling. It’s understandable that no matter how many calming techniques are applied by both dentist and patient, sometimes anxiety wins over. In cases like these, it’s best to have a flexible appointment so the patient can schedule whenever they’re ready.
Consider using sedation and anesthesia.
For patients who suffer from moderate to severe dental anxiety, undergoing sedation may significantly improve their experience since it could provide relief. There are different sedatives to choose from, ranging from nitrous oxide, aka laughing gas, to oral sedation and IV sedation. For more complex procedures, dentists usually opt for general anesthesia since it involves a deeper state of unconsciousness.
Apply cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques.
Lastly, using cognitive behavioral therapy can do wonders for people with severe dental anxiety; through this, they can identify and change their negative thoughts associated with dental visits through different techniques like relaxation exercises, guided imagery, or cognitive restructuring.
Dental anxiety can be problematic for both patients and dentists, but being open to one another is key to overcoming it. By openly communicating their fears and worries, dentists can help patients alleviate their concerns. Coupled with other factors like a soothing environment, sedation, and CBT, patients with dental issues can receive the dental healthcare they need.
