Afraid to visit your dentist? You’re not alone. Most people feel anxious before visiting their dentist. This anxiety is usually rooted in fear of pain, injections, or previous bad experiences. However, much of your anxiety might be due to what you have heard from family or friends or in the media. If you delay or avoid a dental appointment because of fear, you could be getting yourself into more significant dental problems in the future.
Here are some tips for a fear-free dental implant procedure.
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Talk to Your Dentist Before the Visit
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You should speak to your dentist through the phone or Zoom before your appointment. Communication helps establish trust, which can lessen your anxiety. Your dentist has received professional training to deal with anxious patients, so tell them how you feel about the procedure. They will understand and recommend ways to overcome your anxiety. In addition, it helps your dentist identify what’s making you anxious. Is it the pain of the drill sound? Whatever the cause, your dentist will adapt the procedure to suit your needs and help you find a perfect solution to assuage the fear.
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Practice Relaxation Tactics
Before your appointment, take some time to relax by working out or meditating. While you sit in the waiting room, take some deep breaths to find relaxation.
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Have Your Dentist Explain the Dental Implant Procedure
When you don’t know what to expect, it can lead to anxiety. Before undergoing the procedure, ask your dentist to explain it in detail. Once you understand what to expect, you may feel much more confident.
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Focus on the Long-Term Goal
One key benefit of dental implants is their durability. Once they get fitted, they need less maintenance. Even if you get a cracked crown, your dentist can quickly replace it without touching the main anchor of the dental implant in the gum. On the contrary, other tooth replacement options, like dentures, need regular attention from a dentist to sustain their functionality and fit. People with dentures undergo frequent denture replacement, relining, and adjustment procedures, while those with implants can lead an everyday life as if they still have their natural teeth.
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Choose the Appointment Time
Your dentist will critically examine the details for the implant procedure prior to the appointment day. With this in mind, the day of your appointment can help you calm down. Choose a time for the dental implant procedure when you’ll be less likely under pressure or in haste. By doing so, you will feel more comfortable about the procedure and lessen the anxiety.
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Find a Distraction
During the dental implant procedure, distract yourself by watching your favourite movie, comedy or listening to soothing music on your earphones. Alternatively, try imagining yourself relaxing on a beach. This way, you will have something else to focus on besides the dental implant procedure.
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Take Breaks
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed while undergoing a dental procedure. If you feel uncomfortable or need to pause for some minutes, ask your dentist to allow you some time to take a short break. Before the procedure begins, discuss what signal to use with your dentist- most people prefer raising their hands.
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Learn about How to Avoid Complications
Although complications following a dental implant procedure are rare, you can consider fixating on this minor task if you’re a naturally anxious individual. Rather than worrying, why don’t you dedicate your time and effort to finding out what you can do to prevent complications? This means avoiding taking alcohol or smoking while the gums are healing and following the instructions of your oral surgeon or dentist for keeping your mouth and implants clean. Following these instructions helps keep your chances of developing complications low.
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Ask about Sedation
Oral surgeons offer numerous options to help patients remain calm and pain-free throughout the dental implant procedure. More extensive procedures, like oral surgery or tooth extraction, might require general anesthesia or IV sedation. IV sedation puts you into sleep and an unaware condition during which time seems to fly quickly. Most people prefer IV sedation if they’re getting several dental implant spots fitted because the procedure can be relatively lengthy.
On the contrary, if you’re not comfortable getting out of control during the procedure, you can choose to remain awake but use an anesthetic to avoid pain and nitrous oxide as required to help you stay calm. Before undergoing the procedure, speak to your oral surgeon concerning the available sedation options so they can determine the best option for you.
Implants resemble your original teeth and can improve your quality of life. Also, implants can help stabilize your bite, which can deteriorate due to missing teeth, give you a younger facial structure, and prevent jawbone degradation, which commonly occurs after losing teeth. With all these benefits, don’t allow anxiety to stop you from acting to improve your smile and overall oral health. Implement the above-mentioned tips, and you will effortlessly achieve a healthy smile and improved oral health.
