If the thought of visiting the dentist makes you tense up and feel anxious, you are not alone. While we wish that visiting the dentist was not as anxiety provoking for most people, according to WebMD up to 20% of Americans avoid going to the dentist because of fear. So while fear of the dentist?s chair is common, our Krengel Dental team proudly makes an extended effort to make our patients feel comfortable and at home when coming to the dentist. While anxiety is common, there are some ways of responding to the anxiety that are more effective than others. Here are some do?s and don?ts when it comes to managing your anxiety about the dentist. 
The Don?ts:
Don?t keep it to yourself
- Please don?t be shy about letting your dentist you are feeling nervous! A lot of times patients may feel like keeping their anxiety to themselves, but we are here to help. Let your Krengel Dental dentist know your concerns and we will make sure to talk you through every step of the procedure and make you comfortable!
Don?t avoid making an appointment
- Anxiety can often convince us that never is better than facing that uncomfortable anxiety. Unfortunately, avoiding the appointment when we are nervous is a short term fix and a big long term consequence– don?t fool yourself!
Don?t hide any symptoms
- Just like anxiety can oftentimes convince us to avoid the dentist, it can also influence us to keep our concerns to ourselves. This is another no-no when it comes to effective preventative care. Be honest and open with your Krengel Dental dentist and responding compassionately and delivering you the best care is part of our mission.
The Do?s:
Do call our dental team before hand
- A friendly Krengel Dental team member is ready to talk through the ins and outs of each part of our practice with our patients. Whether you want information about a procedure or have a question about a dental concern, a friendly team member is ready to give you the information that will make you feel at ease.
Do express your concerns to your dentist
- While our work is about taking the best care of you we can, your Krengel Dental team cannot guess your symptoms or concerns that aren?t visible to the eye. The more information you share with us, the more we can work to make you as comfortable as possible and give you the best care.
Do engage in relaxation and breathing exercises
- Believe us, we get the reasons why coming to the dentist and opening wide can be vulnerable and provoke anxiety. Our hope is to help make you comfortable , given the situation, so we love to support our patients by encouraging any breathing or relaxation exercises, like grounding with your 5 senses, to make you most comfortable. If you are wondering what kind of relaxation techniques may be helpful, ask one of our team members!
Ready to nip that dental anxiety in the bud and take care of that stunning smile? We are here to help you every step of the way. Call us now at 952-888-1311.
