4 Ways to Manage Your Fear of the Dentist

It probably isn’t shocking to discover that fear of the dentist is widespread! Between 10-15% of Americans avoid their dental checkups because of dental anxiety. That’s around 25-40 million people!

People who suffer from a fear of the dentist experience the early loss of teeth and are at a higher risk of developing gum disease. Dental anxiety can also take an emotional toll. If you aren’t keeping your dental checkup appointment, your teeth may become damaged or discolored, which may cause problems with self-esteem.

4 Ways to Manage Dental Anxiety 

1. Let us know about it – Rest assured that we here at Jennifer Lopez Dental will do anything we can to make your visit to our office is as comfortable and stress-free as possible! If you have anxiety about your upcoming appointment at our office, please give us a call so we can answer any questions you may have.
2. Do research to ease anxiety – Much of the fear centered around the dentist stems from not knowing what to expect. Make sure you learn as much as you can about your procedure and feel free to ask us questions. 
3. Feel free to distract yourself – If distraction is a good way for you to ease your anxiety, we recommend bringing in a set of headphones! Listen to soothing songs, mindfulness meditations, or your favorite podcast. Focusing on something besides your treatment can be a big help. 
4. Consider sedation if all else fails – Once you’ve ruled everything else out, it might be time to consider sedation. We offer a few different options for sedation depending on the procedure, age of the patient, and severity of anxiety. If you’re interested in learning more about sedation, we can go over your options with you!  

The longer you wait to get treatment, the more dental care you may end up needing in the long run! We recommend coming in for your dental checkups to catch any potential problems early on when they’re easier to treat.

To schedule an appointment, please contact Jennifer Lopez Dental here in Miami, Florida!