It is very rare to find someone who will say that they enjoy going to the dentist to have treatment. In fact, if you asked people to name their biggest phobia, we suspect dental visits would be very high on the list. If you are nodding your head as you read this, you won’t be alone and we see many nervous patients at our Staines dental practice.
There may be many reasons why people feel this way. Perhaps it was a bad experience when they were younger or simply the sound of the drill or the smell associated with medical practices. Whatever it is, it is important that it doesn’t stop you receiving any necessary treatment.
It might feel frightening having a tooth filled or extracted and some believe this is because the treatment is carried out so close to the centre of our main senses; i.e. sight, sound and smell. There are a few ways though that can help you to reduce any anxiety and help you have your treatment in relative comfort.
If you are generally nervous about attending dental appointments or have specific anxieties about a particular procedure that you are due to undergo, please do talk to us about it. We see a lot of nervous patients on a daily basis and will do all that we can to make your visit more comfortable and as relaxing as possible for you.
Some patients find that various meditation or relaxation techniques work well for this purpose. A period of quiet can help to put you in a more relaxed state, ready for your appointment. Hypnosis too, may work for some patients of the Clarence Dental Practice in Staines. There are many types of these however and it will be a matter of trial and error as to what works best for you.
Nothing is worse than arriving late for an appointment having rushed to get there, only to be seated in the treatment chair all hot and bothered and possibly sweating too. This is only likely to increase the stress during your treatment. Try to leave home so that you arrive in plenty of time which will enable you to compose yourself and relax in our comfortable waiting room. Some patients tell us that, despite being nervous, it is the build up to the appointment that is worse and that they feel more relaxed when they arrive.
It is important, of course, that you don’t distract the dentist that is carrying out the procedure so any distractions will not have to interfere with that. Some patients imagine themselves on a beach or in their favourite place while others recite phrases silently or even sing songs in their head. There are a lot of suggestions online and it is worth having a look to see if you can find one that will suit you.
As it is often the build up to dentistry which worries people, some find it helpful to bring a friend with them, to sit with them in the waiting room until they are called in for their treatment. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that they will be allowed in the treatment room for safety reasons.
No one is going to pretend that having dental work carried out is pleasant. Some people even find a simple check up at the dentist to be quite stressful. We do what we can to help but we know that some people just ‘grin and bear it’. Why not decide in advance then, something to cheer yourself up afterwards. Perhaps seeing a movie if you have time or taking time to go for a walk. Even reading a book in your favourite coffee shop can give you something to look forward to as you sit in the chair.
Finally, while most patients do manage to keep their dental appointments, for some, the anxiety level is much higher and they are the ones most likely to cancel or simply not turn up. Your oral health is very important and should not be ignored. Your GP may be able to prescribe something to help you relax enough to receive the treatment that you need. We recommend this for those with high levels of anxiety.
We always do all that we can to help nervous patients of our Staines dental clinic and we hope that some of the above suggestions help too. Make sure to let us know if you are particularly nervous about an appointment when you book it and we will make a note and do all that we can to make it as easy and stress free as we possibly can.
To make an appointment at the Clarence Dental Practice, please call our reception team on 01784 463 695.
Address: 21a Clarence Street, Staines upon Thames, Surrey, TW18 4SU
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