Fear of the Dentist: How to Overcome It

Transform Your Fear Into a Healthy Smile

Many people are afraid of going to the dentist. For some, it is a fear that has been with them for their entire life. However, family dentist Los Alamitos makes an effort to put these fears at ease and have patients walk out of their office feeling more confident about dental visits in the future.

The first step is to set up an appointment with the dentist. It can be helpful for a person who has not been to the office before to ask what services they offer or speak about their dental goals and needs that should be discussed at your visit. Find out if there are any procedures that need to be done right away, such as a root canal or filling, which will help you feel more comfortable when you return for future visits. The next time someone goes in for one of these appointments, it may take some work on both parties’ parts but eventually overcome the fear of going back.

The next step is to prepare for the visit and take care of any necessary work beforehand. One common fear is that a person will need to receive anesthesia during these appointments, but it should be noted that in most cases this can be avoided through recommendations from your dentist or by taking steps on their own like utilizing nitrous oxide which has been found to help with anxiety before going into dental treatment.

The final step is being mindful when visiting the dentist next time. If someone needs a root canal or filling done right away, they may want an appointment as soon as possible so they have more time to recover before upcoming procedures; however, if dental work isn’t needed at all then there are scheduling options available where patients only come in once every six months for preventative check-ups and cleanings.