3 Tips for Overcoming Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety is a major dental concern that often leaves people prolonging seeking out professional dental care. We see many patients in our Lawson and Richmond dentist office who suffer from dental anxiety for a variety of reasons. At Kanning Dental, Dr. Kanning and Dr. Tippin work with patients to alleviate their anxiety in a variety of ways. Our entire team does not want to see our patients suffering from the negative consequences of avoiding professional dental care. Here are three tips for overcoming dental anxiety:
ASK QUESTIONS
We encourage all of our patients to ask as many questions as they need to in order to feel comfortable and confident about an upcoming procedure. Our doctors are highly-experienced in providing high-quality dental care and are happy to address any of your concerns. We understand that some dental procedures can seem intimidating, especially if you are unsure of what to expect at the time of the procedure. This is why we emphasize patient education at our practice and ensure that our team takes the time to explain to you what we are doing and why. In many situations, learning the aspects of a dental treatment or procedure can alleviate a patient’s fear of the unknown and help them to relax while receiving the dental care they need and/or desire.
LISTEN TO MUSIC
Many patients experience dental anxiety due to the sounds that are often associated with dental procedures. Because some procedures require the use of drills and other dental tools, we encourage our patients to bring in some headphones to utilize during their procedure. This will help block out some of the noise while also making the procedure seem more comfortable and relaxed overall. We would much rather have our patients enjoying their dental procedures while listening to music than avoiding pursuing regular dental care for themselves. Unlike some medical concerns, which may go away on their own, most dental concerns only get worse as time goes on. This is why we do everything we can to make our office a comfortable and welcoming environment to encourage patients to come and see us when they need us the most.
UTILIZE SEDATION DENTISTRY
Dr. Kanning and Dr. Tippin offer sedation dentistry options for patients who prefer to feel completely relaxed during their dental treatment or procedure. Dental sedation can enable patients to be responsive and in control of their bodily functions during a procedure, but relaxed and comfortable with little or no memory afterward. Our office offers oral sedation as well as nitrous oxide. For patients needing several dental procedures to restore a healthy smile, sedation dentistry can allow your dentist to perform multiple treatments during one visit. If you have been avoiding the dentist due to fear or anxiety, we welcome you and will work with you to help re-establish lasting oral health and a clean, comfortable smile. Please schedule an appointment online today or contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns.
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