Okemos, Lansing and East Lansing Michigan
Does going to the dentist, or even the thought of an upcoming dental visit, make you feel uneasy? This is more common than you might think. Many people experience feelings of nervousness, anxiety or even fear bordering on outright terror when it comes to seeing the dentist. It’s estimated that as many as 20 percent of all American adults suffer from this condition. These feelings can make it difficult or even impossible to receive dental care, and for those who neglect going to the dentist because of their anxiety or fear, the need for professional oral health care magnifies due to this neglect. At Tenaglia Smiles, Dr. Christine Tenaglia and her staff are committed to making the dental experience comfortable for everyone. Today on the blog, we provide some tips to overcome your dental anxiety, and how we can help.
Don’t go it alone
Having someone there to support you in tough or scary times can be a big boost. See if someone will come with you to your appointment—such as a friend, spouse or family member. Just having that comforting presence by your side while you wait in your lobby, and knowing that they will be there once your appointment is complete, can make a world of difference to lower your anxiety level.
Talk about it
Your dentist is there to take care of you: the whole you, not just your teeth and mouth. Explain what makes you nervous about going to the dentist; Dr. Tenaglia or a member of her team then can recommend some measures to help minimize your fear or explain in detail certain aspects of procedures that make you nervous. You can even set up non-verbal messaging such as hand signals during the appointment if the anxiety spikes.
Turn up the volume
These days, most of us carry our favorite music or podcasts with us on our mobile devices. Consider pulling up your favorite artist, song or podcast while waiting for your treatment to begin. Depending on what’s planned during the procedure, you may even be able to keep listening during treatment on headphones.
Remember to breathe
Taking deep, steady breaths is one way to calm you in times of nervousness. This method of breathing makes you more relaxed and lowers the chance you start to hyperventilate, which will only make you more nervous and even potentially cause panic. We understand that going to the dentist can be harrowing, but try to keep taking deep, regular breaths throughout the entire process of an appointment—before, during, and after the procedure.
Drug-free sedation
Many dentists offer sedation dentistry. This usually entails that you breathe nitrous oxide, take a pill or receive medication intravenously to keep you calm and diminish the awareness of your surroundings during the appointment. Now, what if you could experience the benefits of sedation but without being under the influence of any medication? NuCalm makes it possible. NuCalm employs neuroacoustic software to help even a person experiencing high anxiety enter a state of complete relaxation, thus making it easier for them to receive the dental care that they need.
Tenaglia Smiles is proud to offer NuCalm to our patients in Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing and the surrounding communities in Michigan. To learn more about NuCalm or any of the other ways we use technology to provide the highest possible level of care, schedule a consultation by calling (517) 347-6733 or completing our online contact form.