Tips for a Stress-Free Dental Visit
Do visits to the dentist tense up your muscles, make you sweat more, and upset your stomach? You are not alone. Many people feel anxious and tense, often out of proportion to the situation involved. You may worry about the worst things that could happen, which only fuels unnecessary fear.
To help alleviate any emotional discomfort, your dentist provides a clean and relaxing environment staffed by pleasant professionals who remain highly aware of your needs during treatment. However, there are also many things you can do yourself to minimize the stress you feel.
When you make your appointment or sometime before your visit, tell us about your concerns, and don’t worry about asking questions related to dental treatment.
Deep breathing increases oxygen intake, reduces tension around the chest, and relaxes your entire body. Follow these steps before you come to our facility and while you’re waiting.
- Stand or sit upright with your head held high.
- Put one hand on your chest and another on your stomach.
- Breathe in slowly through the nose and count to four.
- Hold your breath for a four-count
- Exhale slowly while counting to four.
- Repeat as needed.
Because you can truly focus on only one thing at a time, distraction techniques can help pull you away from anxiety toward whatever is holding your attention at the moment.
- Try counting objects in the room, such as the number of green items, both backward and forward.
- Sing your favorite songs in your head without moving your lips. For extra concentration, think about the words without the melody.
- Imagine that you’re in a favorite serene place, such as a beach, forest, or park. Don’t just visualize the sights but also involve the sound, smell, and touch of your environment.
The end result of treatment from a dental office is to alleviate issues, be it pain and discomfort or to maintain healthy gums and teeth; it is all about keeping your teeth for the long haul. Your dentist is there to help, even if it is to get you through a minute of pain, but a lifetime of good health. Dr. Ricky Carlyle and his team in Kinston and Greenville offer sedation dentistry to assist patients with fears in receiving comfortable dental care. So, don’t fret about seeing your dentist. It’s all about keeping you in the best shape for your life.