Scared of the dentist? Tips to help before and during your next appointment

Scared of the dentist? Tips to help before and during your next appointment

Being scared of the dentist is not rare. In fact, it’s much more common than most people think.

Research conducted by Censuswide in May 2024 shows that around 76% of the UK population delay going to the dentist because of underlying fears – with patients citing sensitive teeth, a fear of needles, or a fear of the dentist themselves as part of the problem.

But with dental health and oral hygiene so intrinsically linked with overall wellness, being able to manage this fear and still attend dental check-ups and appointments is crucial. If not, you are only making potential issues worse and leaving yourself facing even more intrusive or invasive treatment as a result.

With that in mind, we asked our dentists for their tips and advice on how to prepare for a dental appointment and manage your fears, if you are someone who is scared of the dentist.

Know what you’re scared of and be honest

The first step in managing your fear of the dentist is recognising what the fear actually relates to.

Are you afraid of having someone poking around in your mouth, or is the fear to do with tooth sensitivity and pain? Are you worried about losing a tooth, or is the fear of feeling pain during a deep cleaning or filling?

Whatever your fear is, it’s important to recognise it and then be honest with your dentist. They deal with nervous patients all the time and will likely already know the best way to deal with your fears directly.

One way that dentists help to manage fear is to explain what they are going to do before doing it. Much of the fear that dental patients report relates to fear of the unknown, so constant commentary can help to combat this.

Clear your mind ready for your appointment

Everyone has their own ways of dealing with stress, nerves, and anxiety. If it helps, then consider visiting the dentist before your appointment to familiarise yourself with the setting.

While visiting the dentist can be scary, reminding yourself of the positive impact that your appointment will have on your oral health and overall wellness can also help.

Ask about the medication options

If you are facing an invasive or particularly challenging treatment, then it may be worth asking and finding out more about sedation or numbing medication that can make the process easier for both you and the dentist.

If you are unsure how you will handle the treatment prescribed, then it might be best to use or at least consider support treatments that could help. However, this is a last resort and must be agreed by your dentist. Self-prescriptions must also never be administered prior to dental treatment.

For tailored advice on how best to manage your nerves ahead of your next dental appointment, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for a chat.