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How our dentist can help your dental anxiety

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So many people we see have worries when it comes to the dentist, and it’s no wonder why when we’ve been fed negative stories from a young age! But we at Wickham Dental want to fight back, we want to give patients all the tools they need in order to build a more positive relationship with our dentist in Wickham. If you or someone you know is a big worrier with all things dental then this one’s for you.

Why are so many of us bothered by the dentist?

We absorb negative stories with regard to the dentist in Wickham from a young age. The media isn’t good to the dentist and more often than not the older generations have also had bad experiences. However, it’s worth noting that dentistry has come a very long way in the last sixty years and with our evolution has come a far more comfortable experience.

What is dental anxiety?

Dental anxiety is the name used to describe the negative feeling some people get when thinking about the dentist. It might mean that they go out of their way to avoid seeing the dentist in Wickham or it might be that they worry a lot and think about the dentist a lot. It is very common and is actually totally manageable, it’s just about finding the right techniques for you!

Practical solutions

There are a few practical things you can do to help with your dental anxiety and if they don’t work then you might well need to seek further advice as avoiding the dentist for long periods could be damaging to your oral health.

Meeting the team

Going somewhere new or meeting new people can be daunting in any aspect of life, but when you’re trying to do something you really aren’t keen on doing anyway the whole thing can be totally debilitating. For this reason we would always recommend coming to see us before any appointment. You can meet the team and become familiar with the practice surroundings. This small trip might seriously ease some of your worries.

Bring support

Don’t ever feel like you can’t bring support with you to the practice, just because we’re adults doesn’t mean we don’t need a familiar face in our hour of need. Having a loved one there to support us can be a real game changer when we aren’t feeling our best.

Distractions are fine

If you think wearing headphones will help you to relax and zone out then don’t feel like you’re being rude or that we’ll be upset, whatever works for you is great. Eye masks and stress balls can also be very helpful for those wanting to take their minds elsewhere.

Don’t wait

It’s tempting to not see a dentist until you really need one but this is a mistake! You want to come and see us as soon as you can, as starting out with a simple check-up will be far easier for you to manage than an emergency treatment.