If you struggle with dental anxiety, you’re not the only one. About 36% of all people fear going to the dentist for various reasons.
At Bay Dental Group in San Jose, California, Dr. Woo Young Lee, Dr. Sean Kim, and our team of compassionate professionals understand your angst about going to the dentist. That’s why we offer a calm, inviting environment where you can feel relaxed and comfortable. We also use the most advanced technology to give you a highly personalized, pain-free experience.
If you suffer from dental phobia, here are some tips to help you overcome it:
Tell us about it
When you book your appointment with our team, don’t hesitate to let us know that you’re nervous about your visit. We give special attention to your worries and concerns, so please feel free to talk to us about them.
Things you might want to share with us include past bad experiences or fear of the unknown. You don’t need to feel embarrassed about your dental phobia. We understand that it can affect people of all ages.
Before we begin your dental procedure, we can go over hand signals that help communicate what you need. We monitor your comfort level throughout the process to make sure you’re relaxed and calm.
Exercise your mind
To relax your mind before your procedure, take in big, deep breaths through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth at least five times. Continue to do this when you’re waiting in the waiting room and in your dental chair.
Another way to calm your mind involves concentrating on every part of your body. Start with your head, focusing on relaxing every muscle in your forehead, eyes, and cheeks. Then move down to your chest, your arms, stomach, legs, and feet. As the tension releases from your body, you should start to feel relaxed.
Use distractions
You’re welcome to bring in your headphones and play music to distract your thoughts and keep you calm. You can also bring something that keeps your hands active, such as a stress ball or something to squeeze or spin.
Use your imagination to picture places that you like to be that make you feel relaxed, like sitting on the beach or being on a mountaintop.
Most importantly, know that our team understands your dental phobia. We make it a priority to keep you at ease and free of panic and pain.
If you’d like, you can schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you’ll feel comfortable with your dental visit. Give us a call at (408) 725-2442 today, or request your appointment online.