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We understand that a lot of our patients don’t look forward to visiting our dentist in Cary or our Holly Springs office, but most people don’t think too much about it besides it being a necessity that takes a bit of time out of their day. On the other hand, there are people with a serious fear or anxiety about visiting the dentist, often stemming from fear of pain or embarrassment of the condition of their teeth. If your dental anxiety is standing in the way of getting the care you need or scheduling a checkup, we’re sharing tips for how you can reduce your fear.

Common Causes of Dental Anxiety

First, we want to consider the most common reasons people are scared to go to the dentist in the first place.

Fear of Pain or Discomfort

Hands down, the number one reason people are scared of the dentist is a fear of pain or discomfort. This is especially true for people who have dental issues, but even being worried about pain during a cleaning is common, much less a root canal.

We want you to know that your comfort is our highest priority, and this is true for many dentists. No one wants to see their patient uncomfortable and certainly doesn’t want to cause them pain. We use highly effective numbing agents and anesthetics to ensure you won’t feel any pain, and if there’s ever a concern, just give us a signal, like raising your hand.

A Prior Bad Experience

If you’ve had a bad experience with one dentist, it can cast a cloud over ever wanting to go to another. Whether the staff was rude, the dentist was rushed, or you did experience discomfort, these can all lead to fears of repeat experiences moving forward.

Embarrassment Over Dental Health

It may have been a few years since your last checkup, you’re experiencing decay, or even missing teeth, and you’re worried that a dentist or the staff will judge you or think less. Here’s the thing – we’ve seen it all. We know that there are multiple factors that can lead to skipping the dentist and even letting decay go untreated and our only concern is helping you restore your dental health.

Overcoming Dental Anxiety

Now that we’ve addressed the common causes of dental anxiety, let’s look at some ways you can minimize your fears and schedule your next appointment without worry.

Read Reviews

If you’re worried about a bad experience, research a dentist in Cary before you make an appointment. Visit the website and read testimonials and check out their reviews through Google. While one bad review out of 100 isn’t a cause for concern usually, multiple bad reviews that have gone unanswered often means there’s an issue.

Be Upfront About Your Concerns or Worries

When you do schedule an appointment, let them know up front that you’re worried or what is causing anxiety. A good office will listen to your concerns and take this into consideration and discuss it with the dentist to ensure you get the compassionate care you deserve. If you feel they brush your concerns off or aren’t acting in your best interests, you don’t have to schedule an appointment.

Bring a Distraction

If you’re worried or you feel claustrophobic sitting in the chair, you can wear headphones and listen to music, a podcast, or an audiobook. This can help “remove you” from the situation so to speak, so you will have something to focus on besides having your teeth cleaned or a tooth filled.

Know that You Are in Control

Laying prone in a chair while a dentist hovers over you can cause feelings of claustrophobia and anxiety. It’s important to remember that you are in control. You should always know what’s going on and what comes next. If you need to take a break or even just a moment to breathe, your dentist will accommodate you. Just discuss this before they get started to “lay the ground rules” so to speak.

Schedule an Appointment with Our Compassionate Dentist in Cary

If fear or dental anxiety is keeping you from having healthy teeth and gums, we’re here to help. Our experienced dentists and staff want to provide you with a welcoming, comfortable experience as we restore and ensure your dental health. To schedule an appointment, Give our dentist office in Cary a call at (919) 467-2203 or reach out to our Holly Springs dentist office at (919) 600-6262 and you can also use a contact form to request an appointment.