Combat Dental Anxiety Today With Your Belleville, NJ Family Dentist
If dental anxiety is keeping you from getting the dental care you need, it’s important that you address it so that you can protect your teeth and overall health. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools and techniques you can use that will take away most of the stress.
Keep reading to learn the top tips from a quality Belleville, NJ family dentist on how to combat your dental anxiety and receive the dental care you need!
Let Your Belleville Dentist Know
Your first step to combatting dental anxiety is to let your dentist know during your first dental visit. Because 36% of people in the United States have dental fears, your dentist has probably encountered many patients before you with dental anxiety as well.
This means they’re experienced at helping you feel more at ease in the office, whether that means taking more time to explain procedures to you or offering other comforts, like laughing gas, switching the radio to a channel you like, and more.
Bring Distractions
Feel free to use tools to help you through your anxiety! Earbuds may be especially beneficial, as you can focus on a podcast or your favorite playlist while the hygienist works on your teeth. Fidget toys can be great if you often don’t know what to do with your hands.
Lastly, see if a friend or family member is willing to go with you. Having this support can be invaluable when it comes to facing your fears.
Try Mindfulness
Lastly, try using some mindfulness techniques to help center and ground you. These techniques help quiet your mind of spiraling thoughts. One technique is called body scanning, where you close your eyes and focus on your body, starting at the top of your head. As you slowly move your awareness down, concentrate on relaxing those parts of your body.
Do this till you get to your feet, and you’ll feel significantly more relaxed than when you started!
Schedule an Appointment With Your Favorite Belleville, NJ Family Dentist
The first step to combatting your dental anxiety is to let your dentist know! At Dental Doctors of NJ, we work alongside our patients in a collaborative and respectful way so that everyone can achieve the smile of their dreams. With a commitment to service, our goal is to create a caring, comfortable atmosphere that will help reduce stress and ease your fears.
Ready to schedule an appointment with a Belleville, NJ family dentist? Our friendly staff will put you right to ease. Contact us today to get started!