"I HATE YOU" Overcoming fear at the dentist

Every day I hear at least one of our customers tell me they "HATE" us, (not my business, but the service we provide), and to be blunt it can be hard for our staff and myself to hear. Thankfully, I have tough skin and don’t take it personally but it is a different story for some of our younger staff members. Although we know it is not directed at us, and for some people, visiting any medical provider (and more so a dentist) can be a scary place. Believe it or not there is actually a name for this fear: odontophobia.

Like many I also had a fear of the dentist, (not just because my previous flatmate also was a dentist and now married to one!) but from a bad experience as a child and that has carried into adulthood. If you, too, have a fear of going to the dentist, you need to find some ways to dig in and manage it, and I will discuss a couple of tips that can help. Just remember by avoiding the dentist can actually compromise your overall health in ways you may not be aware of because your oral health is connected to your whole body health. From links to Alzheimer's disease to cancer, & heart disease, poor oral health can put you at risk.

Tip #1 - Investigate

Take the time to understand where your fears are coming from. Did you, like me have a bad experience in the past? Or have you heard scary stories that planted the fear? Perhaps you’re embarrassed at the condition of your teeth or how long it’s been since your last visit, and you fear judgment. Being aware of your triggers allows you not only communicate your fears but also to start finding ways to manage them.

Our team make no judgment on any condition or situation you are in.

Tip #2 - Communicate

Once you’ve determined where the fear lies, communicate that to the dental team. Just like any medical professional, if you talk openly it is easier for both yourself and the team to get you the right solution and achieve the outcomes you want and need.

If you’re looking for a new dental home, check out the office / surgery, look at the google / facebook reviews, and even ask friends and workmates. Once you do find a dental office the best thing is to let them know you're fearful and see if they’re compassionate and how they can help you. Some offices are more compassionate than others, but this is also where your known investigation came in. For instance, if we know you have a fear of needles we can keep them out of sight. Knowing a patient has a fear gives us the opportunity to set aside extra time for their appointment so we can take time to explain things and reassure them as we go.

Tip #3 - Use distractions

If it’s the sounds of the office that trigger your fear response, consider bringing in earbuds and music, meditation sounds, or an audiobook to distract you. Let your dental team know that you’ll be tuning out and to tap you on the shoulder if they need your attention, that way you can really get into the zone without worrying that you’re missing something.

Tip #4 - Regain some control

For many patients, it’s the lack of control that triggers anxiety. Ask your dental team to explain things as they go and to give you choices wherever possible. As an example, when Dr Kelly Tse sees children, teens and young adults I know she gets the patient to pick their own fluoride flavor (BTW strawberry is always the winner), it just gives a little bit of control back to the patient.

One thing many of my patients don’t like is lying back. Instead of riding the chair as it’s moving back (Homer Simpson style) ask the clinician to position the chair to where they need you and then lie back on your own. Then you're in control, and you don’t feel like you're going to fall backwards.

Set up a stop signal. Our team will have our patients raise their hand or thumb up / thumb down if they’re uncomfortable or need me to stop. That way they know they’re in control of the pace of the appointment, and we don’t have to worry the entire time that our patient is any discomfort.

Fears of the medical professionals and dentists is real, talking out your fears can help you figure out how to deal with them. Take the time to communicate with your dental office about your concerns so you can come up with tactics to set you up for successful visits.

I want to assure you that we in the medical & dental industry want you to be safe, healthy and?we want you to like?coming to see us.