Dental Anxiety Treatments Woodland Hills

Did You Know About These Ways to Treat Dental Anxiety?

Dental anxiety isn’t exactly uncommon. Plenty of people feel nervous about the prospect of getting in the dentist’s chair, whether it’s for a routine exam and cleaning or for a major dental procedure. For some people, dental anxiety is severe enough to become a phobia. This can prove debilitating enough to discourage people from making needed appointments. Unfortunately, the longer you ignore a dental problem, the worse it’s going to get and the more intensive treatment it will require. No one should have to live with dental anxiety. There are ways of dealing with it, however, so you shouldn’t have to delay scheduling needed dental appointments because of your worries.

Communication

Perhaps the most important thing you can do about dental anxiety is to discuss it with your dentist. Dentists are trained to work with patients who struggle with anxiety issues. Based on your specific worries, your dentist can recommend coping strategies and treatment modifications. For example, if you need to take a break from the treatment, you can simply raise your hand and the dentist will halt the treatment. You’re also likely to find that simply talking over your worries with your dentist allows you to feel calmer and more in control during the appointment.

Information

Some patients with dental anxiety prefer not to know what’s going on during the treatment, while for others, not knowing is itself a source of stress. Let your dentist know whether you prefer to be kept informed about everything that’s happening. 

Distraction

Distraction can work wonders for patients with mild dental anxiety. It’s particularly helpful for patients who dislike the sounds of dental tools. Many dental offices offer a choice of music in the treatment rooms. However, you can take things a step further by bringing your own personal music player and earbuds into the office. Customize a playlist with your favorite soothing music, and shut your eyes to escape into your own inner world while the dentist or hygienist works.

Deep Breathing

Often, when people get stressed or nervous, they don’t breathe as deeply as they should. This causes a drop in oxygen levels, which encourages people to feel even more nervous, which disrupts their breathing further. The next time you’re in the dentist’s chair, make an effort to focus on your breathing. People tend to breathe “upward,” letting their chests rise with each inhalation. However, proper breathing (diaphragmatic breathing) involves pushing out the belly as you inhale. This deep breathing induces feelings of calmness and relaxation. 

Try to inhale slowly to a count of four, hold your breath briefly, and then exhale slowly to a count of four or five. If you can’t quite manage those lengths of time, don’t worry. Just do what works best for you, but do try to slow your breathing as you get further into this exercise.

Humor

Laughter is the best medicine for the soul, and many people find humor to be an effective way to combat dental anxieties. Humor is particularly useful for people who spend hours dreading the upcoming appointment. Ahead of your visit, listen to a comedian’s podcast or watch movie spoofs on YouTube. Watch, read, or listen to whatever type of humor works best for you. You’ll find that it’s difficult to get nervous about the upcoming visit when you’re laughing.

Laughing Gas

Along those same lines, laughing gas can be a good option for people with mild dental anxiety. Despite its name, laughing gas, also known as nitrous oxide, won’t actually force you to laugh. However, it will help you feel lighthearted and relaxed. Laughing gas is also a good option for people who need to drive and resume other normal activities immediately after the appointment. It wears off quickly, so there’s no downtime required.

Do be sure to tell your dentist about your full health history before receiving any type of dental sedation. While laughing gas has a strong safety profile, it never hurts to be too careful.

Oral Anti-Anxiety Medication

If laughing gas isn’t quite strong enough to handle your mild to moderate dental anxiety, you might consider asking your dentist about oral anti-anxiety medication. The dentist can prescribe this ahead of time, and you’ll pick it up from the pharmacy. You’ll take it as directed before your appointment so that it has time to take effect.

While oral medication can be a good option for many patients, you should still disclose your full health history so that your dentist can determine whether it’s safe for you to use. In addition, you’ll need to have a responsible adult drive you to and from your appointment. The medication shouldn’t affect your entire day; however, everyone reacts differently, so plan accordingly.

Intravenous (IV) Sedation

If you have moderate to severe dental anxiety, IV sedation may be a good option for you. This isn’t the same as general anesthesia; it won’t force you to fall asleep. However, many patients do fall asleep. They wake up with no memory of the appointment. 

As with other types of dental sedation, you should disclose your health history. This deeper level of sedation requires someone to drive you to and from your appointment. In addition, you should plan to rest quietly at home for the rest of the day.

At the Woodland Hills dentistry office of Pearl Zadeh, DDS, we go the extra mile to help each of our patients feel comfortable and at ease with the exam, cleaning, or treatment process. You’ll find that our office has a positive, soothing ambience, and that each of our staff members is friendly and courteous. Dr. Pearl encourages her patients to openly discuss their concerns so that she can offer personalized recommendations and make any needed modifications to the treatment process. We also offer sedation dentistry options for greater peace of mind.

Call (818) 716-6722 to request an appointment in Woodland Hills, CA.