Let’s talk about dental anxiety

Most of us feel a flutter of nerves before seeing the dentist in Harley Street. However, these feelings don’t last, once we realise that our fears aren’t grounded in reality.

dental-anxiety

That said, dental anxiety is a real and prevalent problem that many people are afflicted with. Depending on its severity, the issue can ultimately affect your oral health.

So what advice can we give you to help you combat these feelings? Read on to find out.

What is dental anxiety?

Dental anxiety is a crippling fear of seeing a dentist in Harley Street that results in avoidance behaviour, where you build up the idea of visiting the dental practitioner in your mind so much that you end up cancelling or not showing up for your appointment.

Dental anxiety can be caused by various factors, the main ones being a bad or traumatic healthcare experience in the past, a symptom of generalised anxiety disorder, or the fear of losing control. A fear of needles, pain, or gagging might also be contributing factors.

What are some of the symptoms I can experience with dental anxiety?

If you experience a racing heartbeat or palpitations, are drenched in sweat, and feel like you could faint, you might be experiencing dental anxiety.

This type of anxiety is severe and shouldn’t be left unchecked.

Who suffers from dental anxiety?

Anyone can be affected by dental anxiety. If you’re reading this, you probably suspect that your reaction to seeing the dentist isn’t healthy and might be seeking out ways to manage these feelings.

Is avoiding the dentist really such a bad thing?

Dental appointments are regularly scheduled because they help us to make an early diagnosis, so that we can treat potential issues in the infancy stages.

By not seeing the dentist in Harley Street as often as you should, minor issues can develop into more serious ones.

What are some of the ways I can manage anxiety?

Your first port of call is to tell us, the dental team at Harley Street Dental Clinic, that you’re anxious. Knowing this, we’ll adapt our approach and only move forward at a pace that is comfortable for you. Some patients are afraid of the unknown, which is why we believe in communicating what we’re doing when we’re doing it, so that you’re always in the know.

There are also some other techniques you can employ, which may help to a certain degree. These include a number of well known relaxation methods.

Distract yourself by listening to music

The shrill sounds of dentistry equipment are enough to put anyone on edge and are a known trigger for people with dental anxiety.

Listening to calming tunes or your favourite tunes could distract you from your nerves.

Breathe

Deep breathing increases the supply of oxygen to your brain and prompts the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps you to feel infinitely calmer.

Conscious sedation

If alternative methods do nothing to relieve you of anxiety, you should ask our team of dental practitioners about conscious sedation.

After being sedated, you’ll feel relaxed to the point where you might drift off to sleep. You should be aware of the side effects of conscious sedation before its administered, which include possible nausea and drowsiness.