One of the toughest challenges I believe as a dentist is treating young patients because your earliest experiences at the dentist will impact your lifelong dental journey. A poor experience as a child at the dentist can have a lingering impact and may result in the avoidance of dental treatment when they grow into adulthood.
Dental anxiety is real and very common. From my experience, it’s because as dentists we are working in a space, your mouth and oral cavity, which makes you feel very vulnerable. Also if you have experienced a toothache, it is extremely painful. I’ve had patients say dental pain is worse than childbirth, believe it or not.
Unfortunately many dental tools and materials can be intimidating and uncomfortable. Commonly as well, people are generally self-conscious and fear being judged for the state of their teeth and gums, so feeling embarrassed can contribute to your anxiety.
But this is the danger of dental anxiety, as it can lead to the avoidance of going to the dentist regularly. This means that we are unable to provide preventative care such as your routine hygiene dental cleans and detecting decay early and ensuring disease stops in its tracks. Early intervention means we avoid the more complex dentistry like root canals, or removing your teeth altogether.
So what are my top tips if you’re anxious at the dentist:
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Communication is key, having a conversation with me, as your dentist, about your anxiety can go a long way. We can both work out what are your triggers and how best to manage your anxiety
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Ensure you keep your dental appointments regular because the more you stick to them, the easier it can be to manage your dental anxiety
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Don’t put pressure on yourself - small steps will add up in the long run and it's important to manage your expectations
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Bring a loved one to your appointment. Knowing you have a supportive person by your side to motivate and encourage you to help you get through your dental visit
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And finally, it is important to find the right dentist that suits you! The right dentist should have a friendly team on board, have a sense of humor, a great personality, and the right level of expertise (haha that may be us here at Northvale Dental)
You'll know when the chemistry is right because having a dentist you trust, will help your fight against dental anxiety.