Pop culture alone could leave you with a healthy fear of the dentist, but is it a logical fear or an irrational one? You know to lead a healthy lifestyle you must have proper dental care, so what is the best way to overcome dental anxiety and feel good about visiting your Oxnard, CA dentist?
How Common Is Dental Anxiety?
Everyone has probably experienced some level of anxiety about a dental visit at one point or another. It is not uncommon to be nervous if you are going to have any type of medical or dental procedure done. Learning to overcome dental anxiety is the hard part.
However, for some people, it is more than a case of the jitters. Some people have a fear of the dentist or something they associate with the dentist that is so intense it is disturbing or even disabling. This happens to as much as one-quarter of the population.
Why Should You Not Be Scared of the Dentist?
The truth is that there is nothing scary about visiting a dentist. Dentists are well-educated doctors who will care for you and will work to make sure that you are pain-free and healthy. What people fear are things they associate with a dentist like needles and pain.
On a logical level, you probably understand that your dental condition is the actual source of your pain and while treatment may be painful for a moment, it actually brings about an end to the dental pain you are experiencing. However, it sometimes takes more than just realizing this to overcome dental anxiety.
How Do Overcome Dental Anxiety?
Here are some great tricks for helping you overcome dental anxiety so you can get the dental care you need without being scared.
Talk to Your Dentist
When you visit your local Oxnard, CA dentist, Bella Dental, you can rest assured that the entire staff cares about you and your comfort. If you are nervous, it is okay to say so. If you have bad experiences in the past that still bother you or you have a fear of needles, they are more than happy to take the time to talk to you and help you find a way to be comfortable and work with you to overcome dental anxiety throughout your visit.
Bella Dental always has your best interests at heart and you are always encouraged to express your concerns to your dentist or the staff when you are feeling any level of dental anxiety.
Visit the Dentist Regularly
It is easy to become afraid of things that are unfamiliar. If you are used to regular dental care, you are far less likely to have dental anxiety. You are able to feel more comfortable with the surroundings and how things work.
Additionally, most dental visits aren’t painful at all and do not involve any kind of shot or needle. When you only visit the dentist for extreme emergencies, it tricks your mind into thinking all dental visits are extreme emergency situations. Get used to seeing dental visits in a positive light to help you overcome dental anxiety.
Using Relaxation Techniques To Overcome Dental Anxiety
There are so many great easy relaxation techniques out there, it is just a matter of finding the one that works best for you. There are guided meditations, relaxation music, aromatherapy, and many more that you can try. You can even try combinations like lighting an aromatherapy candle and indulging in a great guided meditation track the morning of your appointment.
The Buddy System
Sometimes we just need that little bit of moral support from a friend. You might not even need them to come in the office with you, but sometimes having someone to drive you to and from your appointment and give you a pep talk to help you overcome dental anxiety, is just what you need to get your foot through that dental office door.