Despite its prevalence, dental anxiety is rarely acknowledged. People think someone hesitant to visit the dentist is scared, but they may have dental anxiety. 36% of people have this concern, with 12% having dental phobia, a severe dental anxiety. Usually, the person fears dentists and avoids them in general. But visiting your dentist is preferred if you suspect the same.
Dental Anxiety Symptoms:
- Fluctuation in blood pressure
- Sleeplessness
- Excessive perspiration
- Mood swings (resentment, frustration)
- Feeling distressed and overwhelmed
- Anxiety attacks
How to Deal with Dental Anxiety?
1. Breathing Exercises:
The body reflexively breathes. The ‘flight-or-fight mode’ activates during stress, causing erratic breathing. But actively controlling your breathing is easy.
Reducing anxiety using breathing exercises is easy. Focusing on your breathing helps improve airflow and reduce anxiety. Exercises like belly breathing, breath focus, and Lion’s breath alleviate stress and anxiety.
2. Guided Imaginary:
Guided Imaginary is a widely used therapy for stress and anxiety that calms patients. It’s safe and helps manage discomfort.
This therapy believes the mind and body are connected. This therapy requires the patient to picture a relaxing scenario using all senses. This makes the mind think the imagination is genuine and reacts accordingly. This method provides great relief and comfort.
3. Progressive Muscle Relaxation:
Working to relax muscles is progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). Tense and relax muscles while managing breathing.
It is most effective if practiced at least twice a day, preferably morning and night. This will also help one notice the results faster. A sequestered location with no disturbance is considered necessary with at least twenty to thirty minutes of practice.
4. Relative Analgesia:
Relative Analgesia is the analeptic term for what is commonly known as the ‘Happy Gas’ or ‘Laughing Gas.’ It is an air-based sedation technique taken by fitting a mask on one’s face. It is a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen oxide, easy to consume, and works very well for children.
The effects of the happy gas kick in just after two to five minutes of consumption and wear off fast as well. It provides a relaxed and pleasant sensation to consumers, which they might not remember clearly once the treatment is over.
5. Hypnotherapy:
This technique induces a trance called hypnosis. It helps one achieve intense concentration and focus, guiding them to relaxation and calmness. Commonly used in combating pain, phobias, depression, hypnotherapy has also proved itself in treating dental anxiety.
Hypnotherapy might have some risks like memory distortion, confabulation, nausea, and anxiety. Although the changes are not that long-lasting or fatal, it is still advisable to get it done from an expert. For further clarification, consult the best dentist in Torrance CA.
6. Distraction:
Although not a long-term and permanent way of dealing with one’s dental anxiety, distracting oneself still helps them become calmer and less anxious.
Distractions like playing cartoons on the television for a kid during the appointment might help the child temporarily curb his anxiety and fear. The same can be done for adults by playing them a movie they like or anything of their interest.
7. Medication:
Medications like diazepam or anxiolytics are available to help one curtail their anxiety. Used generally for extreme cases, it is advisable to consult a dentist before consuming such medicines. You can also opt for a female dentist in Torrance, to get safe and complication-free treatment.
The central concept of these anti-anxiety drugs is like that of sedations and helps one calm their nerves. Mainly one retains control over their body, but some general anesthesia might put you to sleep.
8. Company of a loved one:
One always feels more comfortable and less anxious when around a loved one. Bringing a close friend or family member might help a patient feel calmer.
One must talk to their dentist about their condition beforehand as outsiders might not be allowed everywhere. The support and presence of this person will make the patient feel better even if they cannot talk.
9. Meditation:
Followed for thousands of years in various traditions, meditation was initially used for holy and transcendental purposes. But with the recent developments, it is now also used for relaxation purposes.
This technique is great because it requires no equipment. Simply situate yourself, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Daily 5-10-minute meditation to relax your body will minimize anxiety.
Conclusion
Dental anxiety is way more prevalent than our knowledge. But as we know that oral cleanliness is a critical facet to determine one’s overall hygiene, we cannot let our fear be a barrier to good health. The professionals dentists will give you a seamless experience. If you do not take adequate steps, and avoid the situation, the fear will only grow with time.
Different people have different levels of anxiety, fear, understanding, experience, and clinical conditions. Treating them according to their needs is integral as the same kind of treatment might not be effective for every patient. This technique is great because it requires no equipment. Simply situate yourself, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Daily 5-10-minute meditation to relax your body will minimize anxiety.