One of the most pressing concerns with fear of the dental chair is that it prevents the patient from seeking the dental care they need. They may endure the pain or discomfort of a dental issue rather than visiting a dental clinic, until the condition worsens and they cannot ignore the pain anymore. Often, this means that the poor oral health condition has now progressed to advanced stages, necessitating more invasive and complex treatment plans.

At Kings Dental Clinic we well understand that not all patients feel comfortable seeking dental care which is why we incorporate techniques that address dental phobia Hammersmith into the dental care we provide.

The dental phobia Hammersmith experienced by patients usually is a result of a prior bad experience at the dentist in adulthood (but this fear can even be carried over from childhood). In addition to pain from prior treatments, patients who were made to feel ashamed or embarrassed about their poor oral issue or have feelings of being ‘trapped’ or lack of control whilst in the dental chair or they dread the intrusiveness of dental care are usually terrified of going to the dentist.

Patients who experience the above issues will be happy to note that dental practitioners are quite aware of this plaguing issue and that there are ways we can help patients avoid dental phobia Hammersmith.

Tips to help with dental fear

• Understand the root cause of the fear

It is important that a patient reflect on the reason for their phobia as this may help in finding the right technique to employ to overcome it. For example, if the root cause is a prior painful experience, then a sedative dentistry technique may be best. Or, if anxiety of the dental setting is a cause, then techniques such as meditation or playing soothing music to calm the nerves may help. It is critically important that a patient understands that there are effective techniques that help, one only needs to acknowledge the problem and then address it with the dental practitioner.

• Choose the right dentist

This cannot be stressed enough that the key to a good dental experience lies with the chosen dental practitioner. When choosing a dental clinic, make sure that dental phobia is a core part of what they do. Also investigate the types of sedation dentistry techniques available and choose the one that feels right for you.

• Implement relaxation techniques

There is a wide variety of relaxation techniques recommended for patients who experience dental anxiety. These include: controlled deep breathing exercises, use of distractions (reading, listening to music, watching a favourite series) and taking a friend along.

Other handy tips include seeking help from a therapist, treating yourself to a reward (doing something fun). Speaking to the dentist beforehand about your fears or anxieties will help the dental practitioner help you better.

Remember the downside of dental anxiety is an unhappy smile, tooth loss, gum disease and bad breath. Don’t let dental phobia keep you away from optimal dental health, speak to us at Kings Dental Clinic about what techniques we offer that help overcome dental fear.