is more common than you think. In fact, it is estimated that between 9% and 20% of Americans avoid dental visits altogether because of fear. No matter how much you dread sitting in the dental chair, delaying treatment is not the answer.
Our Portage family dentists and entire dental staff want you to know that there is nothing to be afraid of. We take into consideration every patientโs fear level and aim to make every visit a comfortable one.
Keep reading to learn how we cater to patients with dental anxiety inside our dental office.
What is Dental Anxiety?
There are a variety of reasons behind why individuals develop dental anxiety. Some recall a bad appointment they had in their childhood. Others simply fear pain or judgement. Whatever the cause is, it can feel like itโs here to stay. The first step is identifying it.
You may have dental anxiety if you:
- Have trouble sleeping the night before your appointment
- Feel increasingly nervous or on edge when sitting in the waiting room
- Cry or feel sick when you think about visiting the dentist
- Experience uneasiness when tools or objects are placed in your mouth during an oral examination
- Put off treatment even though you need a procedure done
While dental anxiety is not as intense as a
, it can still interfere with seeking much needed treatment.Our Philosophy and the Dental Prescription
The
can be hard to let go of for many patients. We fully understand and thus, act accordingly. Dr. Dennis herself created this practice to be a place where no one should feel pain and we stand by that philosophy every day.One way we help manage anxiety is to establish a โDental Prescriptionโ when a new patient joins us. Coined and put in place by Dr. Dennis, a dental prescription details each patientโs needs and wants. Itโs specific and tailored to each individual person for the best care possible.
To further enhance the patient experience, Dr. Dennis has perfected her recipe for ensuring those receiving certain treatments are comfortably numb. Numbing can be paired either with laughing gas administered through a nose mask or anti-anxiety medication taken before your appointment.
No matter what, we will work with you to discover what works best.
How We Can Help During Your Visit
In addition to oral sedation, we offer each patient a special comfort menu. From this menu, you can choose whether youโd like to bring your own headphones and listen to soothing music, a soft blanket, refreshments, or more.
We want you to feel taken care of and relaxed while youโre with us. By offering these calming amenities to all our patients, we believe that we are helping them to overcome their dental anxiety. With enough time, patients will associate feeling at ease with being at our dental office.
Weโll Provide the Comfort You Deserve
At our office, we are committed to a positive patient experience. We want nothing more than for you to be comfortable during any dental procedure. If you require sedation to help with your dental anxiety, our family dentists in Portage, MI, are well versed in providing that for you.
Call the dental office of Kalamazoo Dentist Susan M. Dennis, DDS today at (269) 743-4375 or complete our online contact form to make an appointment.