Anxious, nervous or apprehensive before a trip to the dentist? You are not alone. In fact, there’s nothing unusual about feeling anxiety before a visit to the dental clinic. 

Fear of the dentist: the usual symptoms

According to one Kiwi survey, 70 percent of women and sixty percent of men experience feelings of anxiety before a dentist visit. Another report found that dental anxiety affects around a third of people, with a further 12% suffering ‘extreme’ dental fear. 

But while it’s common, it’s still very real to those who suffer from it acutely. Symptoms can include restlessness, panic, elevated heart rate, sweating and rapid breathing, trembling and lightheadedness. 

These feelings can be difficult to control and for sufferers, anxiety can lead to avoidant behaviours. In turn, that can start a vicious cycle of much less frequent – but potentially more invasive – experiences in the future. (The American Dental Association estimates that more than a fifth of Americans don’t regularly visit a dentist out of fear.) 

The good news about dental anxiety 

Many things can cause feelings of fear when considering the dentist: fear of the unknown, an uncomfortable childhood dental experience, worry about cost, or the agitation from existing tooth pain. 

But a lot has changed in dentistry in the last decades. Thanks to better equipment, medicine and dentistry techniques, many formerly challenging treatments are now relatively fast and painless with recovery rapid.

Dentists themselves have a more modern perspective too. That includes a compassionate, patient-centred approach and consideration for those who may feel distress at the prospect of a visit to a dental clinic. 

At Simply Dental, it’s our priority to make you feel comfortable. If you’re feeling anxious, talk to us about how you’re feeling and we’ll do what we can to make your visit as pleasant as possible. 

We want you to have a positive and empowering dental experience – so the focus is on you and supporting you to get the very best result. 

Practical steps to address dental anxiety

If you’re feeling anxious about your treatment, there are plenty of things you can do. 

  1. Before your visit you might like to read through some of your dentist’s online reviews to get a sense of what to expect and to hear how others found their experience.
  2. Knowledge is power, so make a call to the clinic ahead of time to discuss your upcoming procedure.  
  3. Avoid caffeine and other stimulants before your appointment.
  4. Bring a support person with you. And if you need a break during the procedure, just ask – we will always accommodate. 
  5. If the cost of treatment is a contributing factor, talk to us about easy payment options. 

Overcoming dental fear

Visiting the dentist shouldn’t be something that has to be endured, and dental anxiety needn’t stand in the way of better oral health. 

Luckily, when it comes to long-term outcomes, the best results are achieved by doing a little bit, often. Maintain a consistent daily routine of brushing and flossing, eat a rich, varied diet, drink plenty of water and get regular checkups. Regular checkups means that problems are detected early and can be addressed before they grow more significant (and anxiety-provoking). 

There’s nothing to fear from a visit to the dental clinic and a proactive approach to oral health will help you avoid unnecessary discomfort, expense or distress down the line.