Whether it is the thought of someone being up close and personal in your mouth or its sterile smell and drilling sounds in the background, visiting the dentist office in Springfield VA, can be stress-inducing and unpleasant.

If you have been delaying visiting your dentist due to concerns or fears, then you are not alone. According to a study, 60% of the people surveyed acknowledged that they suffer from dental anxiety.

Dentist anxiety can create many issues for you in the future. If you don’t see your dentist regularly, you will end up having poor dental hygiene. And if you currently have dental problems, it will only worsen if you do not treat them properly.

So, control your fear and your dental hygiene. This article will share several tips to reduce dental fear and anxiety and feel at ease at the dentist’s office.

Schedule A Tour for the Dentist Office in Springfield, VA

If its been a long when you visited your dentist last time, then you might not have a specific dentist to go to. You may see a new dentist office in Springfield, VA you have never visited earlier or revisit an office that you haven’t visited in years.

Either way, you must contact the dentist’s office and request to schedule an office tour.

Visit the office without an appointment, get a feel for the environment and meet the staff and dentist.

If you can meet with everyone before taking your first appointment and see the office, you won’t have much anxiety on the treatment day. If a dentist’s office doesn’t meet all your needs, move on to another dentist until you find the one you’re comfortable with.

Talk to Your Dentist

You can only overcome your fears when you acknowledge them. Take a pen and paper and jot down all of your worries about the dentist.

What worries you the most about your visit to the dentist’s office in Springfield, VA?

Are you scared of pain? Or do you have any other concerns?

Write everything down and discuss your fears with your dentist. Be honest with your dentist, and they will ease your distress. Once your dentist walks you through the process step by step and shares the tools they will use, you won’t have as many concerns running through your mind.

Schedule Early Appointment

Another way to overcome fears is to take up appointments in the early mornings. Scheduling your appointment in the late afternoon may bring more worries throughout the entire day. So rather than wasting your whole day thinking about the appointment, get it over with the first thing in the morning.

You can wake up, brush your teeth, and go. Once you are done with your visit, you then rest the entire day to relax.

Use Your Hands to Give Signals

Your dentist can identify when you need something or you feel uncomfortable. But there could be times when your dentist can’t figure out all of your requirements. Remember, you cannot use many words as soon as your dentist starts working on your teeth.

So, to ensure seamless communication without words, use hand signals. You can review a few hand signals with your dentist before starting with the process. For example, you can request the dentist to share the hand signal for ‘stop.’

You can also request the team at the dentist office in Springfield, VA, to give you earplugs or a blanket if either of these helps ease your anxiety. You can also bring your own if you think that would be helpful for you.

Bring Your Music

You can also keep your mind distracted during the procedure by bringing along your favorite music with you. Rather than using your ears to listen to all the noises, you can relax in your world.

But make sure you inform the dentist office in Springfield, VA, in advance if you want to listen to music during the procedure. You can practice two or three hand signals with your dentist so both of you can communicate without you needing to hear.

However, if you find communicating difficult, then you can always take your earbud out for a moment and put that back in.

So, do you have any questions?