If visiting a dentist for therapeutic dental treatment Newport News gives you anxiety, you have various options to help you relax enough to get the best care you need.

Call Ahead

Contact your dental office to discuss your concerns before your treatment appointment. Voicing your anxiety can help to ease your mind and give your dentist time to think of ways to help you relax.

Ask for Relaxation Assistance

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is useful for anyone who finds it difficult to relax while undergoing dental procedures. It is an odorless, mildly sedative gas that inspires calm and euphoria and reduces anxiety.

Bring a Friend or Relative Along

For some patients, asking someone to accompany them to a dental appointment can help them relax. A companion can provide you with a distracting conversation, moral support and travel assistance, allowing you to relax before and after your dental treatment.

Listen To Music

Bring along a mobile device for listening to music during your dental treatment. Cranking up the volume while listening to your favorite tunes can drown out the sound of dental instruments that can be a significant source of your fears about visiting a dentist.

Skip Your Daily Java

Abstaining from your daily caffeine fix on your dental treatment day can prevent unnecessary jitters and make staying calm much easier.

Remember To Breathe

Anxious people tend to take short, shallow breaths, which prevent adequate blood oxygen levels, leading to dizziness or panic. Remembering to take deep, full breaths before and during your dental procedure can satisfy your body’s oxygen cravings and activate the parasympathetic nervous system to help you calm down.

Receiving appropriate dental care is necessary for good overall health. If fear causes you to avoid visiting a dentist, remembering to apply some simple strategies to stay calm will ensure you never miss a dental appointment.