5 Questions You’ve Always Wanted Your Dentist to Answer If You Have Dental Dread
Questions You’ve Always Wanted Your Dentist to Answer
You all know that going to the dentist is one of my least favourite things to do, I’ve shared my experience at the dentist and my tips on how you can conquer dental dread.
But, those are just my tips on how I handle things.
Haven’t you ever wanted to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth?
I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Klein and ask him all about dental dread, anxiety, dental freezing and more! Now you can rest easy and be prepared for your next dentist appointment.
With over 50% of Canadians suffering from dental dread, it’s good to know that we have options and shouldn’t be afraid of asking questions.
1. What advice can you give patients that have dental dread and anxiety
While a number of my patients experience dental dread, our team responds to the individual needs of our patients, ensuring that patient values always guide our expert advice and clinical decisions.
Here are some of the tips I share with my patients:
- Wear sunglasses to help you relax.
- Try meditation techniques such as relaxed breathing during your appointment.
- Take earbuds to each appointment and listen to your favourite music or podcast.
- Have a frank discussion with your dentist to address any dental dread you might experience before each appointment.
2. How long does it take for dental freezing to wear off?
Common routine dental procedures including cavity and crown preparations, veneers and periodontal scaling require soft tissue anesthesia which can lead to embarrassing side effects from being numb. These effects typically last up to 2.5 hours.
3. What are some relaxation tips do you have that patients can do before arriving?
If you’re dreading a visit, be sure to talk to your dentist. There are many options available to make your visit more enjoyable before, during and after.
4. Do new patients have the chance to meet the team and the hygienists before getting procedures done?
A trusted dentist who is committed to providing patient-centric care is vital to leading a healthy lifestyle – always talk to your dentist and don’t feel embarrassed to ask for a tour or to meet a new team.
5. What do you recommend to minimize dental freezing times?
New solutions have recently come to market which helps patients reduce dental freezing time, including Septodont, which is manufactured right here in Canada.
We Have Options
There you have it folks, these are all great tips and insight coming from a professional! One of the things that excite me most is that we have options.
There are ways to calm ourselves down even before we have a procedure done.
Also, being able to reduce lingering soft-tissue anesthesia after the procedure is already winning to me.
With the support and following these tips, you can fight dental dread and anxiety.
Do you have any tips to add to help others conquer dental dread?
Let me know, til then–cheers m’deres!
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Nancy Polanco is a freelance journalist, lifestyle content creator, and editor of Whispered Inspirations. She is a proud Mom to Gabby and Michaela and partner and best friend to Darasak. Having worked as part of a health care team for almost a decade, Nancy is happy to be back to her passion. She is a contributor to the Huffington Post, TODAY’s Parents, and an Oprah Magazine Brand Ambassador.
Honestly, my dentist could give me anything in the world and I would still be terrified to go see him. Nothing could help me get over that feeling.
Aww, maybe these will help!
I have got to get myself into the dentist. Unfortunately my insurance is not the best and I need a lot of work done in my mouth. These are some great tips from the dentist with some wonderful information to keep people at ease.
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Thanks Jeanette, hope you can get that taken care of. Hope these tips help you too.
I have no tips to offer. Dental dread is still a huge part of my life, unfortunately. I HATE going, so I should actually be thanking you for these tips.
My pleasure, I am glad they will be able to help you.
Great advice. I know I despise going to the dentist and often my worries are way worse than the actual visit. I have never thought of wearing ear buds, but I am sure they would help. Thanks for sharing…
Yes, the ear buds would definitely help calm your nerves.
Dental Dread is what I have big time. Just took hubby to have a tooth pulled today – he hates it worse than me – and I almost passed out just hearing what they were going to do.
Oh no! Hope these tips can help you!
Who isn't just a teensy weensy afraid of going to the dentist? The advice about relaxation techniques before the patient arrives are particularly helpful.
Glad they help, I have to agree.
I'm definitely NOT a fan of going to the dentist so these are great tips for me to use when I have my next appointment. I like the sunglasses idea. 🙂
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Hehe, I am not a fan too!
Septodent sounds like a great option for me. I hate the frozen feeling after the Dentist.
Me too! It lasts so long too.
I always dread going to the dentist. I will have to look into trying the Septodent.
Always great to ask your dentist!
Oh man, my life would have been such a mess if I was afraid of the dentist. I've had $70k of dental work done! I could actually sleep in that chair! But this is great info for people who are having anxiety over it.
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Oh wow, that is a lot! 🙂 Glad it is okay for you!
I'm glad you wrote this post. I use to hate going to the dentist. I now don't have much of a fear as I use to. I think my problem was that I didn't go as often as I should have…but now that I go once a year it's really not bad.
Definitely, the more you go the less problems you may have.
oh the dreaded dentist! I just try to get into a happy zone/place. Basically I do a lot of daydreaming/thinking when I am there. But i love the idea of bringing ear buds with me to listen to my fav tunes. that would totally help!
I agree, that is a great idea!
I had a bad experience as a young adult at the dentist which lead to a bad infection due to piece of tooth being left inside,it was so painful .Thankfully i found a nice young dentist and its actually not a dread anymore.Those are all great tips i will pass on to my friend who fears the Dentist.
I am glad it is not an issue for you anymore. Thanks for passing it along!
some great question with great answers!
Thanks Laurie, hope it helps.
My grandkids love their Dentist! And he always tells my daughter how well behaved her 4 boys are. Of course, they have the TV screens mounted on the ceiling, they use cookie dough flavored stuff to clean their teeth and a huge video arcade. One of my grands asked his mom if he could have his birthday party there. 🙂
I wish I could say the same. I hate going to the dentist! Maybe if my dentist had all those things . . .
Wow, now that is a dentist office! Yeah, I am no fan either!
These are some of the best questions, I love it
Glad you do!
I don't have dental dread but I know so many people who do. Thanks for sharing these tips and information.
My pleasure!
I'm definitely someone that does not like going to the dentist. I actually am due for a checkup and I'm totally dreading it! It's nice to hear there are so many options to help patients these days.
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I am due too and I am not looking forward to it too!
I have TMD so dentist dread is definitely part of my life. These are great tips and the ear bud tip isn't one I actually thought of so I will try that during my next appointment.
Hope it can help you!
Me and dentists dont see tooth to tooth simply because I really cant hack it lol but i do go for my check-ups.
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Haha, I love this!
I've always looked forward to going to the dentist (am I strange?)! This is a great resource for those who don't feel the same way I do.
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Not weird at all. I actually dread going. I think it is because I hate how I feel when I leave the dentist. 🙁
Until last year I was deathly afraid of the dentist. I already suffer from anxiety but the dentist made it ten times worse. I'm proud to say that I'm over it and I make regular visits without anxiety. I even allowed them to put a screw in my gum. O_o
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WOW, that is great, I am glad that you are able to go now.
I know a few people who are afraid of the dentist. I will be sharing your tips with them.
Thanks for sharing!
Love this topic.. I hate going to my dentist, they always find something 🙁 so unfortunate
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Aww, that is unfortunate!
Septodent sounds like a great option for myself as I always dread going to the dentist!!
Helps with the freezing, I hate that feeling!
I like the idea of wearing sunglasses! I just had my wisdom teeth removed last month. I usually don't get nervous about the dentist but that was nerve wracking!
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OMG, I am with you on that!