I’ll come straight out with it, I am petrified of the dentist, and every appointment that I have with them is a real ordeal. Don’t get me wrong, the guys at Sutton orthodontists are absolutely brilliant and they make sure that I have everything that I need and that I am as comfortable as possible. Throughout the years I have tried many different approaches to the appointment and now I seem to have the routine down pretty well. I would like to add as well that I also have a fear of being put to sleep, so an appointment that way would never have worked. If you also get anxiety and panic when you have to go to the dentist, here is how I get through it.
Morning Always
The first thing to mention is that I would recommend getting your appointment for the very first thing in the morning. In my experience I have found that the later in the day my appointment is, the more time that I have to whip myself up into a frenzy, and completely freak out about the appointment. Whatever time the dentist opens, get that very first appointment.
Day Before
I have always found that meditation is a great way to center myself and to find a way to relax, so I always use its powers the day before the dentist. I generally sit for around 30 minutes doing breathing exercises, and I try to visualize the appointment, or at least as much as I can cope with. I can honestly say that since I have been meditating the night before my appointment, they have become far, far more bearable.
Rescue Spray
I never wanted to use drugs to keep me feeling calmer ahead of my dentist appointment, it was just something that I never felt was a good plan, as I could perhaps look to use them whenever I was feeling anxious about anything. What I have found however, which helps me out a great deal, is a rescue spray which is made using different herbal mixtures, and completely relaxes you. The spray is sold under a number of different names throughout the high street, and it can really help to keep you calm before, during and after your appointment.
Good Care
The final thing that I want to say is that the more you look after your teeth, the less likely it will be that you have to go to the dentist in the first place. In fact I would go as far to say that my hatred and fear of going to the dentist, is exactly why I very rarely need to go, because I invest so much time in making sure that my teeth and gums are clean and healthy. Remember that the best form of defense is offense!!
How do you manage to get through a dentist appointment? Let us know in the comments below.