Four Ways to Combat Dental Anxiety

Four Ways to Combat Dental Anxiety

Four Ways to Combat Dental Anxiety

While we wish it weren?t true, there are very few people that actually enjoy ?going to the dentist.?  Our clients love their Krengel Dental dentist, so ?it?s not you, it?s the chair? is something we hear quite often. Uneasiness felt around a dentist visit is normal and there are ways to lessen the anxiety. Avoiding appointments can lead to costly dental consequences that we want to help you avoid. Here are three ways to ease the pain and make your dentist visit something to smile about:

  1. Talk it out

At Krengel Dental, we are proud to have a team of dentists who are kind, courteous and looking to take your worries into account before starting any appointment. We highly recommend that you share your concerns, worries or discomfort with your dentist at the very start of the appointment. Collaboratively, you and your dentist can find a way to make adjustments that will allow you to feel more comfortable and in control. The best way to avoid any discomfort or unexpected surprises is to talk it out with your dentist. You can request that your dentist que you on each part of the process so that you know exactly what to expect.  Spending just a few minutes discussing your fears, understanding each step of the process and finding a way to communicate any pain or discomfort during a procedure can go long way. Know that your teeth and your worries are in very good, caring hands.

  1. Focus on your breath

The first sign of being nervous is holding your breath, and often times unknowingly. The best and most proven way to ease your fears is to focus on slowing down your breath to increase oxygen levels. By doing so, feelings of panics and stress are lessened and by focusing on deep breathing, you may have  a harder time fusing with your anxious thoughts. We recommend trying 4-7-8 breathing– a technique where you breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and slowly breathe out for 8 second. This technique slows down your breathing to increase oxygen and calmness in your brain and body.

  1. Ground yourself

Grounding exercises can be an excellent way to take your mind off of your fearful thoughts and mindfully focus on the room around you. These exercises are designed to lessen emotional intensity by regaining your mental focus on the present moment. We recommend the five senses grounding exercise: notice and label, five things you can feel, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste. By bringing your attention to the five senses, you are being mindful in the moment, seperating yourself from anxious ?what if? thoughts.

  1. Play some tunes

A great way to boost your mood and distract worried thoughts is with music! Let your Krengel Dental dentist know that you will be listening to music to help you distract, and come up with a playlist of tunes that will have you focused on your favorite jams instead of on the dental equipment. Music has the power to reduce physiological and psychological  stress and the dentist?s chair is a great time to bring out a great distraction that will have you jamming instead of stressing!

With dental anxiety being so common, our Krengel Dentist team?s number one focus is to make you comfortable and find a way to make your time in the chair the best it can be. If you have dental anxiety and would like to talk with a dentist or team member beforehand, give us a call at 952-888-1311. We look forward to working with you to make you comfy & cozy.