Overcoming Dental Anxiety: Tried-and-True Tips for a Stress-Free Visit

If you experience dental anxiety when it comes to oral healthcare, you’re not alone. It’s widespread. Every dentist, orthodontist, and oral surgeon in Melbourne, FL, is accustomed to working with patients with fear or anxiety. If dental anxiety is something you struggle with, here is some advice to make your visits more comfortable and stress-free.

What Causes Dental Anxiety?

Research has found that dental anxiety is one of the most common fears among people worldwide. The reasons why people are afraid of oral surgery or even dental cleaning boil down to a handful of things. For most people, it’s fear derived from a bad experience with an oral healthcare professional. Some feel anxiety because they are anticipating pain from a procedure. Others are embarrassed about the current state of their dental health. Another common reason for anxiety is the sense of the loss of control they think they have once they get into the chair. Fortunately, here are some ways to overcome anxiety about dental surgery in Melbourne.

Find the Right Oral Surgeon

Working with the right oral surgeon can help relieve your dental anxiety. Knowing the surgeon and the office staff will increase your comfort level. Most of our patients will come for at least one consultation before their procedure, whether receiving dental implants or having wisdom teeth removed.

This lets you see how friendly and caring our staff are here at Sedaros Oral Facial Surgery & Dental Implants. Feel free to ask as many questions as you have. The more knowledge you have about your procedure ahead of time, the more comfortable you will feel on the day of.

Use Relaxation Techniques

Use relaxation techniques for several days before your appointment. There are many different ways to do this, and you may already have some favorites. Stretching exercises, yoga, and meditation are all tried-and-true relaxation methods. Deep breathing exercises can help slow your heart rate while increasing the oxygenation of your cells, which can reduce stress and anxiety. Listening to relaxing music can help calm the mind before an appointment if it’s causing you anxiety.

Arrive Early for Your Procedure

If you arrive at the last minute before your appointment, you may feel rushed. Arrive at least 15 minutes early (or earlier if instructed by your doctor) in case any last-minute paperwork needs to be filled out. This allows you to sit in the waiting room, relax, and mentally prepare before your appointment. Listen to calming music on headphones or do deep breathing exercises. Showing up right as your appointment is set to begin can lead to added anxiety.

Bring Someone with You

We require that every patient bring a responsible adult with them for surgical procedures to drive them home afterward, so this may seem like a moot point. Having a trusted friend or family member there with you can be a big morale boost for someone who experiences dental anxiety. You can talk to them before the appointment, and you know they’ll be there to drive you home after the procedure is over.

Trust the Anesthesia

We use intravenous anesthesia to sedate patients before and during oral surgery procedures. This ensures you will not feel any pain during the procedure and for a few hours afterward. One requirement is that patients not eat or drink anything for at least 8 hours before their surgery—also, no smoking for at least 12 hours beforehand. If you take any sort of medication for anxiety or anything else, you must let Dr. Sedaros know ahead of time. This is to ensure that there won’t be any negative interactions with the anesthesia.

Talk to Your Oral Surgeon about Your Dental Anxiety

If you experience dental anxiety, let your doctor know! Dental anxiety is widespread, and our office is used to working with patients who experience it. If you have any questions about your procedure or want to know more about ways to relax and enjoy a stress-free visit, contact us at Sedaros Oral Facial Surgery & Dental Implants.