How to Manage Being Scared and Stressed at the Dentist

Nervous About Your Appointment at SET Teeth Straightening and Whitening?

If you get anxious about going to the dentist, you’re not alone. Not by a long shot. Some studies show nearly three-fourths of American adults experience anxiety or outright fear when they even think about visiting the dentist. About 1 in 10 Americans experience enough fear to classify it as a phobia. It’s okay. Luckily, SET is not your typical dental office, we’re a whitening and teeth straightening studio.

SET strives to create a different atmosphere than a normal dentist’s office. We want all of our Fairfield, CT patients to be as comfortable as possible when they visit our studio, so we do everything we can to give our guests a comfortable, calming environment. There are a few things you can do on your own though whether preparing for a visit to SET or your regular dentist to help make your visit a little easier.

1. Talk it out

If you’re stressed about your upcoming visit one of the best things you can do is to about it. Having a clear understanding of what your visit will be like – even visualizing what will occur during your appointment – can do wonders. At our office we are happy to make special accommodations to make things more comfortable for you. You’re not the first person who’s been worried about a visit!

2. Plan your appointment

Life is stressful but you don’t need the stress of life to cause extra anxiety during your appointment. If you’re already nervous about your visit, it won’t help to carry in the anxiety of a bad day at work. Schedule your appointment for a day when you don’t have anything big going on outside of your appointment. If you have an appointment scheduled or whitening planned, try to keep the rest of the day clear. That way, your mind can be rested and fresh for your procedure.

3. Practice breathing

Deep, relaxing breaths can help reduce stress levels. If you’re feeling anxiety about your visit, begin by taking a deep breath in, holding it for a second, and slowly letting it out. That’s the most basic start toward relaxation, and it works for almost any situation. Continue relaxing breaths throughout your appointment.

We want all our patients to be as comfortable as possible, and we want you to look at your visit to the dentist as a good thing. If you have any questions about a procedure, or if there is something we can do to ease your worry, contact us. We’ll work as a team to keep your next visit stress-free!