How to cope with Dental Anxiety

In the UK, 1 in 4 of us suffers from dental fear or anxiety, with a surprisingly high number of us dreading a trip to the dentist’s chair.

Suffering from dental anxiety means different things to each of us; dental fear could stem back to a traumatic or painful childhood experience, fear that the treatment may hurt, or perhaps it is simply triggered by the look and smell of the dental surgery.

The good news is that with advancements in modern technology, changes in the appearance of dental surgeries, and friendlier and more understanding dentists, a trip to the dental clinic is a much more enjoyable experience.

At Ock Street Clinic, each of our friendly dentists understand just how stressful a dental visit can be, and so always ensure that patients are as relaxed and comfortable as possible, allowing you to feel in complete control throughout your visit.

If you are suffering from dental pain or are in need of a check-up, but are too anxious to make an appointment, why not pop in for a chat with one of Ock Street’s friendly receptionists who will be happy to talk you through any worries or concerns that you may have.

Whether you choose to book your appointment over the phone or in person, ensure that you make the receptionist aware that you are anxious about your appointment and would like your dentist to be informed of this beforehand.

If possible, request an early appointment so that you don’t spend the entire day dwelling on it, becoming increasingly agitated and anxious.

To help reassure you and calm your nerves, why not bring a friend or family member along to your first appointment – in stressful situations, a  familiar face can do wonders for offering support and reassurance.

When you arrive at the dental clinic take a few deep breaths, this will help to calm your nerves and will give you time to relax.

Remember that you first appointment will only be for a check-up, so apart from a quick dental exam, there won’t usually be any treatment performed on the day. If you are nervous, it is a good idea to use your initial appointment to get to know your dentist and to ask any questions that will help to make you feel more comfortable.

If your dentist decides that further dental treatment is necessary, ensure that you remain calm and in control. Use the remainder of the appointment as a chance to ask as many questions as possible, discussing the treatment options and procedures with your dentist.

It is important to remember that with advancements in modern dentistry, most dental treatments can be virtually pain free.

To make your visit as comfortable as possible, local anaesthetics are used and to make the injection painless a small amount of numbing gel can be applied to the gums beforehand, so that you are completely unable to feel the needle.

If you are extremely anxious and feel unable to cope with dental treatment procedures, Ock Street Clinic offers a sedation service that can be used to help reduce stress and anxiety. Intravenous Sedation works by putting a sedative into the blood stream via the back of the hand, this induces a feeling of deep relaxation and temporary memory loss, with patients having little or no memory of the dental procedure.

It is important to remember that no matter how anxious you are, modern dentistry means that treatment can be painless, so don’t let tooth and gum problems get worse and worse, book an appointment at Ock Street Clinic with confidence that you will be in safe hands.