Over 20% of Americans avoid the dentist because of the fear of the dentist. You are not alone! Dr. Kinnari M. Prajapati, DDS, and her team can help you feel more comfortable on the day of your appointment. Our goal is to make sure that you have a pleasurable experience when you visit our Canyon Creek Dentistry office. In this blog, we talk about Dental Anxiety and How To Overcome It.
For dental anxiety, fears can be conditioned directly or indirectly. Directly, meaning you had a negative experience at a previous dental exam. Or, indirectly, by observing a parent’s anxiety, receiving worrisome information about someone else’s experience, viewing disturbing dental images, and being threatened by a previous dentist. Either way, dental anxiety can be crippling and can affect your overall oral health.
Worrying about pain to come can often create a larger physiological response than the pain itself. Relaxing your mind is the first step to relaxing your body. Take deep, long breaths to slow your body and calm your worries. One way to take deep breaths is to count to four while inhaling, hold your breath for two breaths, and exhale for four breaths. This technique works best before your appointment or on a break during the appointment.
Laughing gas, medications, ‘going to sleep’, and numbing agents can make your next dental visit more comfortable. Typically, these medications are used in larger procedures, but they can be used for dental phobias. If you are putting off a necessary dental procedure because you are afraid it will be painful, don’t worry! If you have more concerns with dental anxiety, call Canyon Creek Dentistry. Also, if you have any other dental concerns or needs call Dr. Kinnari M. Prajapati, DDS in Temple, TX and schedule an appointment today!