Tien Jiang, DMD, MEd has contributed a great article on coping with dental anxiety to the Harvard Health Blog.
For many people, going to the dentist is an unpleasant but manageable experience. For others, just the thought of going to the dentist causes severe anxiety, leading them to delay or avoid dental treatment. Unfortunately, this behavior can spiral into a vicious cycle of dental pain, health problems, worse anxiety, and more complex and costly dental procedures.
Please visit the article linked here "Drills, needles, and pain, oh my! Coping with dental anxiety", to learn more about:
- Dental anxiety and phobia
- Prevention and the mouth-body connection
- Managing pain
- Managing anxiety
- Medications to reduce dental anxiety
Ultimately, managing your dental anxiety will involve a combination of the above options. Talk with your dentist and explain exactly what makes you nervous about the visit. Your dentist will do a careful review of your medical history in order to make safe recommendations while considering your overall health.
And lastly, visit your dentist regularly even if you are not in dental pain. This is the best way to prevent painful experiences and more complex and costly procedures.
