Anxiety at the Dental Clinic : Reasons for It and How To Cope

Dental anxiety ‍

Dental anxiety is very common, with moderate to high dental anxiety found to affect 19% of the population in this study. Some people may even have dentophobia — an intense fear of the dentist. Much like iatrophobia, people with this condition may experience panic attacks, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, rapid breathing, nausea and gastrointestinal distress. We see patients with dental anxiety all the time at ReCreate Dental — that’s why we’re dedicated to making your trip to the dentist as comfortable and worry-free as possible!

Dr Google

Ahh, Dr Google. We’ve all fallen into the trap of Googling our symptoms at some point, right? As harmless as it may seem, the (often gravely serious and *completely* misdiagnosed) results Dr Google spits out can do a lot more harm than good — especially when it comes to increasing your anxiety or fear about seeing the doctor.

How to reduce anxiety ?

1. Stop worrying about the ‘what ifs’ and book your appointment asap.

Delaying the treatment is not recommended . 2. Schedule your appointment at a good time that suits your schedule . 3‍. Try anxiety-reducing techniques

There are a few simple relaxation techniques you can use to ease your anxiety before and during your doctor’s appointment. Breathing exercises can help to moderate the body’s stress response and calm the mind. Need a distraction in the waiting room? Pop in your headphones and listen to your favourite music or podcast — or better yet, a guided meditation or relaxation hypnosis.

4. Tell your doctor

Be honest with your doctor about how you’re feeling. The simple act of acknowledging your anxiety can be the first step to overcoming it.