Tips for Staying Calm During That First Visit at Forest Dental in Loughton
For a lot of us a visit to the dentist is just another part of our routine, get up, get ready, sit in the chair, go home. It sounds easy, but for a lot of people that short visit can be a pretty stressful time, especially if it’s your first time at a practice. There are a lot of new faces, sights and sounds to get used to that can overwhelm people and make you anxious.
Even though we do take things slow on your visit at Forest Dental in Loughton, here’s a couple of things we recommend our patients try at home and in the chair to put you at ease on your next appointment.
Communicate with your dentist
When you’re sitting in our practice, we can’t stress enough how important it is that you communicate with us. Not only will it put you at ease and make you feel more in control, but it will also let your dentist know when things are getting a little too much for you during your treatment.
If you struggle with speaking to other people because you’re anxious, why not try simple hand signals to say if you need a break or are feeling uneasy at any point. The more you talk to your practitioner, the easier the experience will be for you.
Practice breathing techniques
Most of us when we’re nervous tend to hold our breath, this is the worst thing to do if you’re feeling nervous as it decreases the oxygen in your blood whilst the adrenaline only continues to climb. Which is why a lot of people with anxiety tend to shake quite a bit when they’re nervous, all that adrenaline and nowhere for it to go.
Taking long, slow even breathes helps to circulate and increase the oxygen in your blood supply, which breaks down that energy and relaxes you. Try to time it whilst particularly hard treatments are happening like injections or when drills are used.
Listen to music
Listening to your favourite tunes is a great way to lower stress levels. Although heavy metal and thumping dubstep are a big no-no as that music was made in mind with getting your heart rate up. If you have anything you listen to that’s of a slow tempo then that’s perfect to just chill out to, as your dentist at Forest Dental Loughton does their job.
Take in a stuffed toy
At Forest Dental in Loughton we certainly won’t judge you if you stop by with a plush toy that you like to cuddle up to. Having something from home that you can hold and squeeze if you’re feeling stressed is a great way to relax you during your treatment.
Keep a few of these in mind ahead of your next appointment and you should find that you will start to feel less scared about visiting our practice. We’re open to whatever you need to do to make things better for you.