Lying back and being asked to open your mouth while someone pokes and prods with instruments is certainly awkward, thus I try to make this process as painless and as comfortable as possible. I offer sedation dentistry medication, which requires a patient to arrange for transportation to and from their dental appointment, and I make a point to talk about and recognize their fears in a rational and tangible manner. They are not alone and should not feel shame about having such anxiety and fear. Needles and drills are frightening based on the sight and sound of them alone to many people, especially with a near strange placing them in your mouth, which is why many patients with dental phobia wear head phones and sunglasses while receiving treatment at my office.
Developments in dental technology and practices now allow for less painful and more efficient means of treatment, but many still have fear from the days of old. I try to deliver my patient’s ideal dental experience. I do this by asking what they expect from me with regards to addressing their concerns and what the best means for us to accomplish this together with them as a team.
I encourage my patients to keep an open mind, and let them know that I respect their fears and the reality of their anxiety. This is an important dialogue that allows my patients to voice their fears, and grants me insight into how best to prove to them the dentist does not have to be a dreaded experience and that we can work together to make a their biannual visit an important and integral part of their overall health.
