I knew how nervous I got as a 15years old going to the dentist. The word “terrible” is an understatement. The experience falls short of what obtains in today’s dentistry but the mental torture I went through was worse than the severe tooth ache I experienced. The outlook of the dental office, the fear of the unknown, the dental drill and the horrible looking dental chair made my condition worse which made me put off several dental appointments. If asked about how I coped with the pain? I respond with “I don’t mind taking pain prescription pills any day” in a harsh tone.
Do you know dentist and the dental team can actually make your entire experience fun? It all starts from our front desk personnel who are well trained to assist you with your appointment booking to see an associate dentist that you are comfortable with and to communicate in understandable terms, the procedure that may be carried out by the dental surgeon
We at platinum dental surgery have come up with time proven strategies to make your going to the dentist fun and with no pain
- Make your voice heard
We all know the phrase “A problem shared is a problem half solved”. Always tell your dentist about your anxiety, fears and bad experiences you may have had from other dental practitioners. Never be afraid to ask questions because knowing the dental procedure and the stages often alleviate any fear of the unknown. We at platinum dental surgery agree with the patient to raise hands when they feel uncomfortable for whatever procedure is being carried out
- Distraction by visualization
Our dental office is built and decorated in a homely fashion with flowers, pictures that often describes basic procedures in dentistry and a pleasant smell which is nothing Vis-à-vis the hospital setting or a rowdy scary scene in an accident and emergency unit. The steps taken by our office make it easy to have a relaxed mind and be more receptive to dental treatment. Our front desk manager also comes in to explain your procedure in the most basic manner to put your mind at rest before you see the dental hygienist or the dental surgeon. The lobby also has current magazines to help you take your mind off your dental treatment
Other methods we employ are using silent drills and encouraging the patient to wear headphones while listening to their favorite songs and lastly to always visualize a happy place
3. Breathing exercises have been found to relax the mind so we teach our patient Breath counting. The process we teach includes;
- Sitting in a comfortable position.
- Gently close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
- To begin the exercise, count “one” to yourself as you exhale.
- The next time you exhale, count “two,” and so on up to “five.”
- Then begin a new cycle, counting “one” on the next exhalation.
- Never count higher than “five,” and count only when you exhale.
- Do these five times while you’re waiting for your appointment or during breaks while you’re sitting in the dental chair.