The overwhelming fear of dental appointments can be a common cause of anxiety. We feel at Port Coquitlam Dental that comfort, relaxation and happiness of our patients are embedded deep at the heart of any good dental practice. Our staff will do whatever they can to reduce your anxieties, allay fears and provide painless, quick treatments.
Here is a list of some of the most common dental fears:
· Fear of embarrassment about the condition of teeth.
· Fear of gagging.
· Fear of injections.
· Fear of loss of control.
· Fear of not becoming numb when injected with Novocain.
· Fear of pain.
· Fear of the dentist as a person.
· Fear of the hand piece (or the drill).
HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP REDUCE DENATL ANXIETY AND FEAR:
Please talk with our staff – Though it can be hard to talk about fears with a stranger, our dental staff is extremely understanding and can take extra precautions during visits if fears and anxiety are communicated.
Agree on a signal –Many people are afraid that the dentist will not know they are in significant pain during the appointment.. The best way to solve this problem is to agree on a “stop” hand signal with our dentists and hygienists. This way both parties can easily understand signals like raising the hand and we can stop and address the situation immediately.
Bring a portable music player – Music acts as a relaxant and also drowns out any fear-producing noises. Listening to calming music throughout the appointment will help to reduce anxiety.
Sedation – If there is no other way to cope, oral sedation offers an excellent option for many people. Please discuss your options with our dental staff if oral sedation is something you are interested in.
Ask about alternatives –Discuss all the sedation options available in dentistry today so that we are able to help you choose the best option for you to have the least amount of anxiety.
If you have questions or concerns about how the dentist can help you overcome anxiety and fear, please contact our office today