How To Manage Your Dental Anxiety – Our Top Tips & Advice

Dental anxiety is very common. By some estimates, 50-80% of adults in America have some level of anxiety about dental care. Most people have mild dental anxiety that doesn’t stop them from getting care, but severe dental anxiety can make it difficult to keep your mouth healthy.

But if you have dental anxiety, the team at Titletown Dental is here to help. We offer a comfortable judgment–free anxiety for every patient. And we’ve also come up with some simple advice you can use to manage your anxiety and keep it under control.

Be Open With Your Dentist About Your Anxiety

First, you need to find a dentist who will listen to you, take your needs into account, and treat you with the care and respect you deserve. At our office, Dr. Sam Schmidt loves treating patients with dental anxiety, and helping them get the care they need for healthy mouths.

And this starts with an open, honest discussion about your dental anxiety. You need to talk to your dentist about what makes you anxious. Are you embarrassed by your teeth? Do you hate the sound of a dental drill, or the smell of the dental office? Do you fear loss of control? Did you have a bad or painful experience with a previous dentist?

Talking about these things with your dentist is the first step to identifying healthy coping mechanisms, which can help you overcome your anxiety. For example, if you don’t like the sound of dental drills, you could wear headphones and listen to music to help you deal with this trigger, and feel more comfortable during your appointment at Titletown Dental.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene To Minimize The Need For Invasive Treatments

If you have dental anxiety, the idea of an invasive treatment like a root canal or tooth extraction may seem really scary. But there’s good news! If you take great care of your mouth, you can pretty much eliminate your risk of serious oral health problems.

That means you’ll be way less likely to need any kind of invasive oral surgery. Good oral hygiene starts at home, so brush 2-3 times a day for 2 minutes using fluoride toothpaste, and floss once per day. Maintaining a healthy, low-sugar diet and avoiding habits like smoking and alcohol use will also help with your oral health.

You also should see Dr. Schmidt every six months for an oral exam and teeth cleaning. Routine cleanings help reduce your risk of issues like cavities and gum disease. They also let Dr. Schmidt catch potential oral health issues early. If he does recognize a problem, early intervention means you’re way less likely to need an invasive dental procedure.

Consider Sedation Options To Help You Through Your Dental Appointments 

Dr. Schmidt specializes in sedation dentistry in Green Bay, and our team can offer sedation for any appointment, even a teeth cleaning. Take a look at our sedation options below.

• Laughing gas – Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” sedation uses a comfortable nose mask to deliver a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide to your lungs. This helps you relax and feel more comfortable, and also helps reduce any potential pain or discomfort. It also wears off within 5 minutes and has minimal side effects, so this is great for treatments like teeth cleanings or fillings.
  
  
• Oral conscious sedation – Oral conscious sedation uses sedative pills that will make you feel much less anxious about your visit. You will feel groggy and tired, and you may even sleep through your appointment or forget most of what happened during your visit. This is a deeper level of sedation, so it takes a few hours to wear off. You can’t drive yourself to or from our office, and will need to bring a responsible adult to take care of you.
  
  
• IV sedation – IV sedation uses the same drugs as oral conscious sedation. But instead of a pill, they're delivered intravenously directly into a vein. This results in faster, deeper sedation compared to oral conscious sedation. IV sedation is a good choice for patients with severe anxiety who may need invasive dental surgery.
  

Don’t Fear The Dentist – Come To Titletown Dental Today!

If you have dental anxiety in Green Bay, seeing the right dentist is crucial for maintaining your oral health. And at Titletown Dental, we welcome patients from all walks of life. Even if you have severe anxiety, Dr. Schmidt can work with you to find strategies that will help you feel relaxed and comfortable. We’ll always make sure you get the dental care you need for a healthy mouth. Contact us online or give us a call at (920)-399-0428 to schedule an appointment today.