How to Navigate Anxiety about Going to the Dentist
Image Description: A photo of a dentist chair and dental equipment.
If you are like me, you have anxiety about going to the dentist. I think it is a lot to ask someone who has had trauma, to lay back helplessly while someone uses tiny torture devices on them. But if you have dental insurance, going to the dentist regularly can be a beneficial part of self-care. (Regular health insurance should also at least cover cleanings). Regular care by dental professionals should help to minimize the more torturous visits, such as root canals. The sooner you get issues taken care of, the better.
*Disclaimer - I have no dental expertise - this is the opinion of a mental health professional. Please consult dental professionals for dental issues. Access to healthcare is a luxury not available to all - click here for some information for finding low-cost dental care.
Here are some tips on how to deal with a visit to the dentist.
Find a kind dentist. First, find someone covered by your insurance. Then check reviews (even Yelp has dentist reviews). And finally, meet with them. I like to tell them up front that I have anxiety about the dentist. If they respond with understanding, then that is a good sign. If they don’t show understanding, I would keep looking!
If you are getting a procedure done, ask if laughing gas is an option. I only recently discovered that this was available to me and I love it. I love that stuff - I wish I could have some for other occasions. If you are easily affected by drugs, let them know, to start with a low dosage. (Related note - epinephrine makes me cold and shaky, so when I get shots of local anesthetic, I get the one without epinephrine. It doesn’t make me cold/shaky and I don’t get the weird numb half-mouth feeling, long after the procedure, as I used to, when I used to get the kind with epinephrine. But this is entirely personal, please consult your dentist).
One of the worst parts about going to the dentist, is how loud all the devices are. I started using my noise-cancelling earphones to reduce this discomfort. Earplugs are another great option that is also affordable.
While getting some x-rays done, I had to wear the lead apron. I commented to the dental hygienist that it felt nice like a weighted blanket. She asked if I would want to wear it for the whole appointment, and I said yes. (See how nice it is to have a kind dental professional?) My dentist’s office is also quite cold, so it also kept me warm. Weighted blankets can help calm our bodies (for some people).
EMDR!* I did EMDR around going to the dentist with my therapist. The positive belief that helps me is “I can recognize what I can and cannot control.” One of the ways I cope is that I started to recognize where I had the power to choose and control what I can. I gave myself permission to ask for things that will help my anxiety. We don’t have to feel bad or feel like a burden for making choices that help us.
Getting regular dental care is an important part of good health. It is caring well for ourselves. It sucks, but we can make choices that can help make it suck a little less. Try some of my suggestions if you think they can help you, or think of other ways where you can make choices for your own well-being.
*For more information on EMDR, please see this post.