If you heed the advice of Riverside Dental in St. George, Utah, your dental anxiety will vanish. In this extensive blog post, we cover everything from getting ready for your appointment to handling anxiety throughout treatments. Bid farewell to anxiety when visiting the dentist and say hello to a calm, relaxing visit.

Understanding Your Fear

Before developing coping strategies to deal with dental anxiety, it’s important to pinpoint the source of the fear. The source of dental anxiety varies from person to person, with some reasons being

• Fear of pain
  • Thinking about all of the tools dentists use during their dental procedures can be daunting. However, the dentists at Riverside Dental Care are passionate about making their clients as comfortable as possible. Not only are they professionally trained on how to carry out a dental procedure in the smoothest and easiest way possible, but they are also equipped with many different options if the procedure has the potential to cause pain. These options range from administering different medications to using topicals such as numbing gel, to taking breaks during the procedure to let your mouth rest. Additionally, Riverside Dental Care is meticulous when it comes to following up with their patients to make sure they are pain-free in the days preceding their visit. If there is any pain, you will be invited back to get that taken care of right away.
• Past negative experiences
  • A previous negative experience at the dentist can cause lasting anxiety. However, the dentists at Riverside Dental care about more than just your teeth. They also care about you! They work hard every day to make everyone’s visit a pleasant one in order to help those with negative experiences rewrite their previous stories and make new, fond memories. You will not only depart with a radiant smile but also enjoy a few laughs.
• Distrust in your dentist
  • It’s understandable to be wary of the person who is doing intricate work on your teeth and mouth. That’s why at Riverside Dental, the dentists take the time to get to know you on a personal level and provide explanations for the reasons and methods by which they will enhance the conditions of your teeth. You will be clued into every decision made in regard to your dental plan and will have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you’d like or decide you want more time to think before proceeding with treatment. If you are uneasy about something at any given time, you and your dental team will go over it until you feel safe and secure.
• Sensory factors
  • It’s quite common to imagine the dentist as a place with too many lights and noises buzzing all around you. That’s how it’s depicted in the movies most of the time, so why shouldn’t you think of it that way? But at Riverside Dental, there are no intense beeping noises, blinding lights, or scratchy and uncomfortable dental chairs. Rather, the atmosphere is warm and the noise level is low to ensure ultimate comfort. Plus, the dentists are open to arranging accommodation if you need even more security, such as making sure you are in the area farthest away from other patients.

Coping Strategies 

If you identify with any of those reasons above, then you don’t need to worry, because there are plenty of coping strategies you can use to reduce your anxiety and conquer your fears. Some of these include

• Talking To Your Dentist

• • • Talking to your dentist about your anxiety is one of the best strategies to employ. Speaking our fears out loud is the quickest way to take the power away from them and create space in our minds for positive thoughts. You can open up a conversation with your dentist by letting them know you are nervous to be there or nervous about your dental plan. That way, they are aware and can be extra thorough when it comes to explaining to you exactly what they are doing. Plus, dentists are used to being the source of people’s fear, so they have the skills to help you feel better! If you are too nervous to wait until you see your dentist, you can call Riverside Dental Care today and let the front desk agents know you have anxiety, and they can help you navigate the conversation with your dentist. 

• Planning Ahead

• • • If you know you are the type of person who gets anxious when you have to go to the dentist, plan your day around it. Give yourself adequate time before your appointment to prepare yourself, so you aren’t walking into the office rushed or frazzled. The calmer your nervous system is before the appointment, the calmer you will be during it. Also, give yourself at least an hour after the appointment so you don’t have to be anywhere or do anything. This way, you can recenter yourself and rest before carrying on with the day. Facing our fears can take more energy out of us than we like to think!

• Showing Up Prepared

• • Dressing comfortably, bringing headphones, and being aware of the dental work you are getting are all good examples of showing up to your appointment prepared. For some people, it’s the fear of the unknown that causes them the most stress and anxiety. But if you know exactly what type of work you are getting that day, whether it be a teeth cleaning or a cosmetic procedure, you won’t have to grapple with not knowing! Additionally, music is naturally soothing, so bringing headphones is a great way to tune out the dentist and tune into your music! And let’s not forget that wearing sweatpants is an automatic way to make yourself more comfortable and ready to relax in the dental chair. 

Patient Comfort and Care

At Riverside Dental Care, a patient’s comfort and security is the top priority and we do everything we can to make you feel at ease during your visit. Whether you’re nervous about pain or stressed out by a past negative experience, the dentists at Riverside Dental Care work hard to take care of you and your personal needs so you don’t have to worry about a thing.