5 Tips for Managing Dental Anxiety

Nervous about an upcoming appointment at Thrive Family Dental? If you have dental anxiety, there are a few steps you can take to feel more safe and comfortable during your appointment at our office. Here are a few top recommendations from our team. 

1. Share Your Fears & Triggers With Dr. Friberg And Our Staff Before Your Visit

We highly recommend that you consult with Dr. Ben Friberg before your appointment, and tell him about your fears, anxiety, and “triggers” that make you feel scared, such as the sound of a dental drill, feelings of embarrassment about your mouth, or loss of control in the dentist’s chair. 

By doing so, we can make recommendations that will make you feel more comfortable. If you don’t like the feeling of not being in control, for example, you can use hand signals like a thumbs up/thumbs down to tell Dr. Friberg when you’re feeling good and are ready to continue, or to tell our team when you may need to pause your treatment for a few moments. 

2. Control Your Breathing Throughout Your Procedure

Breathing irregularly can contribute to stress and discomfort. Focus on your breathing, and take slow, deep breaths throughout your procedure to make sure you get enough oxygen, and that you don’t start breathing quickly and shallowly.

3. Choose Low-Stress Appointment Time

We recommend that you pick an appointment time that’s convenient, low-stress, and allows you to rest after your procedure is completed. For example, we offer appointments as late as 8 PM on Mondays, so you can get care after work and relax for the rest of the night at home.

If you feel like you will have time to relax and rest after your appointment instead of rushing back to work or your day-to-day routine, you will be less likely to feel stressed out and anxious.

4. Bring In Some Headphones & Tunes 

Tuning out the sound of a dental drill and listening to your favorite music or a podcast can make you feel a lot more comfortable during your dental procedure, so we welcome all of our patients to bring in headphones!

5. Play With Our Facility Dog, MEADOW

Animals can help you de-stress and put you in a better mood. Our friendly facility dog, Meadow, loves meeting new people. If you’re an animal lover, spending some quality time with MEADOW is sure to help you feel less anxious.

Contact Thrive Dental To Get The Care You Need In Wilmington‍

‍If you have dental anxiety in Wilmington or Porters Neck, you’re always welcome at Thrive Family Dental. We’ll do everything we can to provide you with a positive, safe, and anxiety-free experience at our office. So don’t wait. Give us a call at (910) 240-4797, or contact us online to get started.