5. Share Your Fears
No matter how excited you are for your appointment, nothing prepares you for the fear
that you will experience as you lie on that bed. If you fear needles, you will be anxious
about getting injections. If the sight of blood scares you, removing a wisdom tooth will not
be an easy task. If you are scheduled for surgery, you may be worried about the success of
the procedure.
The best way to manage these fears and have a relaxed time at the clinic is to share your
concerns with the dentist. Don’t feel ashamed to tell them that you are anxious about
feeling pain. Sharing will relax you and also give the dentist insight into how to handle
your treatment without causing you anxiety.
For example, if you fear needles, the dentist may opt for a different form of anesthesia that
does not involve pricking your skin. An example is nitrous oxide or laughing gas. Also, if
you are anxious about seeing blood during a procedure, they can give you general
anesthesia that keeps you asleep throughout the process. When you are scared about the
success of a procedure, the dentist will share success statistics to keep your mind at ease.