Similar to how we treat children, we take a “tell, show, do” approach with adult patients who might be scared or nervous about coming into the office. We tell the patient exactly what we plan on doing, and if they need more explanation, we show them how it will work. We’ll demonstrate what will happen, showing them the drill or instrument so they can see what it looks like in advance. Along with that, we use talk therapy to help coach our more hesitant patients and make them feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
Contents
How We Make Patients Feel Comfortable
Transparency
For patients that fear the process or overtreating, we go through all their records with them. We sit down after a new patient appointment and talk about all the different X-rays, the pictures we took, and the current condition of their mouth. Our job as practitioners is to tell patients what we see, how we can fix it, and what might happen if we don’t fix it. After that, the patient gets to make the decision with how they want to proceed.
Trust
We understand that going to the dentist makes people feel vulnerable, which is why we like to establish a sense of trust with our patients. So once we let patients feel in control and let them know we’re not going to do anything that they don’t want us to do, most people let down their guard and can put their fears at ease by knowing they’re in control. If they tell us to stop, we’re going to stop. If they tell us they don’t want to do something, or at least right now, they can make that decision. They just have to be fully aware of why they’re making the decision and the effects it might have.
Creating a Safe Space
To make patients feel comfortable, we try to create a safe space for them. For example, we provide sunglasses instead of clear glasses that help darken the room and make them feel more relaxed, keeping the bright lights out of their eyes. We also encourage patients to bring headphones to listen to music or podcasts. To help make patients more comfortable, we offer patients blankets and pillows they can position under their neck or back. For children, we also have a stuffed animal they can use to practice brushing its teeth before we do it in their mouth.
Laughing Gas & Medication
We also offer nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas,” for an additional fee for patients. We can also prescribe anxiolytics or anxiety medications for patients to take before they come to the dentist. While anxiety medication doesn’t knock patients out, it helps them relax, so they care less about the work we’re doing on their mouth. Patients who receive nitrous oxide can drive themselves and leave in their own car, but not if they take the anxiety medication.
Our hygienists can also apply topical numbing gel and use a softer touch for sensitive patients. While some scraping might be necessary to remove stuck particles, the goal isn’t to cause pain. We also let patients choose whether they want water or hand instruments, along with asking them how they’re doing throughout the cleaning.
Why Fear Shouldn’t Keep Patients Away from the Dentist
If a patient allows fear to keep them from coming to the dentist, their problems could potentially get much worse and exacerbate those fears. Because now not only will they be afraid of pain or what the drill sounds like, they’ll be fearful of what a root canal will feel like because their filling got too large. Financially, it will only become more difficult the longer a patient avoids the dentist. As problems worsen, the cost goes up. So a small filling or a cleaning may turn into periodontal disease or a root canal with a crown. While many minor issues can be treated with minimal invasiveness, fixing those more significant problems will be more scary, more invasive, and more expensive.
So even for patients with fear, going to the dentist regularly is an integral part of overcoming that apprehension. Going to regular appointments and building up a habit will also eliminate the fear of not having been in a long time and what will happen when a patient finally does go.
At Cedarwood Dentistry, we cultivate dental health through personalized care. We offer a variety of dental services, including family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and emergency care in Midlothian, Virginia. Whether you last visited the dentist six months or six years ago, we can help bring your smile to life. Schedule your dentist appointment today by calling 804-379-9375.