Communicating With Your Dentist

This is the key to beating dental distress. Modern dentistry can be almost painless, so it’s worth taking the time to discuss your fears — and the potential treatment options — with your dentist.

Participating in decisions about your treatment can give you a feeling of control that can help you to feel less anxious. Your dentist should discuss all the procedures you may need and ask whether you prefer to have several done at one time or have a series of shorter appointments. Ask your dentist to describe the types of pain control available and decide which you feel will work best for you.

To help lower your anxiety during the appointment, ask your dentist to explain what’s happening at every stage of the procedure. When you know what the dentist is about to do next, you can prepare yourself and you won’t be taken by surprise.

On the other hand, some people may feel less anxious if they don’t know what’s happening. If this is true for you, explain this to your dentist. He or she should be willing to accommodate your wishes whenever possible.

Another helpful technique is to agree on a hand signal, such as raising your hand, which means you’d like everything to stop right away.

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