Overcoming Boise Dental Anxiety

Do you suffer from anxiety before every single one of your Boise dental exams or procedures? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. More than 75% of Americans feel anxious when visiting their dentist. Not only do some people not look forward to visiting their Boise dentist  but their regular physician as well. While the majority of Boise dental procedures aren’t painful, sometimes just being examined is enough to make people feel stressed.

People develop Boise dental anxiety for many different reasons:

• Pain – Pain is one of the main things people develop anxiety over. The fear of pain is most common in adults 24 years and older. This may be because for many of them, their early Boise dental visits happened before advances in “pain-free” dentistry were developed.
• Feelings of helplessness and loss of control – Many people develop phobias based around certain situations – such as flying in an airplane – in which they feel they have no control. They may feel they can’t see what’s going on or predict what’s going to happen leaving them feeling helpless or out of control.
• Embarrassment– The mouth is an intimate part of the body. Often, people may feel ashamed or embarrassed to have a Boise dentist look inside. This may be a particular problem in they’re self-conscious about the appearance of their teeth. Boise dental treatments also require physical closeness. During a treatment, a hygienist’s or Boise dentist’s face may be just a few inches away. This can make people anxious and uncomfortable.
• Negative past experiences – Anyone who has ever experienced pain or discomfort during a previous Boise dental procedure is likely to be apprehensive and anxious the next time around. In circumstances such as these it’s best to talk with your Boise dentist about any past experiences so that they can talk with you about what to expect during your current procedure.

Once you’re here at our Boise dental office, it’s important to remember to take some slow, deep breaths to relax. Then, try to relax your muscles by sitting back comfortably. If you’re still feeling anxious, be sure to let your Boise dentist at Summit Dental know. We deal with nervous patients all the time and can offer additional relaxation techniques for you to try.

* Remember Boise dental anxiety and fear do not discriminate. Its part of our job to help you through your dental journey and overcoming your Boise dental fears! We not only care about your oral health but your overall health and happiness as well. The key to coping with dental anxiety is to discuss your fears with your Boise dentist. Once your Boise dentist knows what your fears are, he or she will be better able to work with you to determine the best ways to make you less anxious and more comfortable.