If there is one fear that most of us share, it is the fear of going to the dentist. There are so many of us scared about going for our regular dental checkups. In fact, some studies show that as many as one in four people experience anxiety at one point during their visit. However, this fear is completely irrational as new and modern dental techniques now mean that we can undergo a variety of treatments without experiencing any pain at all.
Do you still feel very scared about going to the dentist even if you know you shouldn’t? Well, you may be happy to hear that there are now many ways that dentists are helping their patients to get over their fears. Here are just a few of them.
Being A Little More Understanding
A couple of decades ago, dentists didn’t have much time for patients who were scared. They could easily become annoyed and quite gruff with patients who were proving difficult. However, these days you don’t have to worry about angering your dentist if you do have a phobia. Most dentists are now trained in dealing with patients in a very understanding manner. Before he or she starts the treatment, they will talk you through the procedure step by step and will also show you all of the tools and equipment that they will be using. Most patients find that this relaxes them as they aren’t letting themselves in for any surprises.
Relaxing Practices
Over the past few years, you may have noticed that your local dentist has changed the style of their practice and waiting room. There is a very practical reason for this; creating a relaxing ambiance in the practice can help to put patients’ nerves at ease. Dentists who choose to have a professional dental clinic fitout will often request special features that have been proven to relax people. These include fish tanks and fresh green plants and shrubs. So when you are thinking about redecorating your practice, be sure to go for warm colours, calming features and plenty of things that patients can distract themselves with including magazines.
Friendly Staff
When people go to see their dentist, there are some other employees who they will interact with. These include staff such as receptionists, dental nurses, and hygienists. It is important that all these members of staff are as understanding and friendly as the dentists are. For instance, just because the receptionist won’t be performing any treatments, they still need to be understandable to patients. A negative interaction with a receptionist could put the patient in the wrong frame of mind, and they might feel very anxious by the time they sit in the dentist’s chair.
Thankfully, most people are not scared of the dentist. However, for those who are, all of the above steps that dentists take should help them to relax once they step into the practice and overcome their fears. Dentists are continually looking for new ways to ease patients’ nerves, as getting a regular checkup is incredibly important for everyone.
