Dental Anxiety | 5 TIPS to overcome your FEAR of going to the DENTIST

[@DentistJess]

Are you afraid of going to the dentist- let's talk about it! Let me know some of the things you feel when you have to go to the dentist, and some of the dental fears that you may have... comment below.

[@angelrocco2024]

I was but I had them out under anaesthetic recently tg....it wasn't as bad as I thought I just couldn't do it awake personally

[@Slayer602ttv]

A Dentist came up and surprised me and putting up the chair very fast even not giving me a warning or saying anything when he came in. So I jumped up, because I was scared and so on. I was claiming down but the dentist gave up on me saying to take me elsewhere not there.

[@chloecham4442]

Wow thank you so much for this video! My anxiety skyrockets before every dentist appointment and I’ve never really been able to explain why. All of your tips are so helpful and I’ll be sure to remember them before my next appointment.

[@DentistJess]

Chloe, Thank you for the compliment! Happy to help. ☺️ Hopefully it will help you be a little more relaxed before your next appointment! 💕

[@scottslaney3509]

The anxiety issues I have were all caused by dentists, I have been worked on by 14 dentists each have either taken teeth but left bits in, done fillings that are cracked within a week or off colour very noticeably, I've had a dentist drill a hole in my gum that needed stitches from a hospital and was given anaesthetic by my entire mouth expecting 4 fillings only to have 4teeth filled together. Add on top of all this the 2 times I have felt faint after injections and the1 time during sedation I recall very vividly a man with a knee in my neck and we have the reason why just going to the door of the surgery makes me physically sick, sweaty, slurred speech and uncontrollable feelings of dread that for my life I cannot keep under control. I have been to all sorts of therapies and hypnosis and still I have an anxiety so strong I am shaking just writing this comment

[@DentistJess]

Scott- thank you for sharing. That sounds like a very traumatic experience for you. Dentistry is not a one size fits all- everyone comes in with different experiences and situations. It sounds like you might benefit from sedation dentistry if you need more advanced treatment done. That being said - the best way to avoid needing advanced procedures is to keep your mouth as healthy as you can! I hope that your experiences in the future will be more positive and hopefully you can start the road to recovery from your past traumas.

[@Queenoffactslisa]

I shouldn't have read this. Trauma

[@angelrocco2024]

They put me under anaesthetic cause my phobia was so bad around pulling teeth I did have the surgery and to be honest it was 10-11 teeth all my upper back ones lower wisdom ones and a front side one....I didn't go for years and I had supportive friends who took me to hospital the nurses and surgeon were fantastic too....I made it out to be worse than what it was to be honest ❤❤❤

[@DentistJess]

Thanks for sharing about your experience. I’m glad it turned out to be a good experience. 🙂

[@Slayer602ttv]

​@@DentistJess why do some dentists give up on anxiety patients , because I had a dentist gave up on me because they surprised me witch scared me and I have anxiety plus the dentist he didn't say anything when he came in. I was calming down slowly for him but he jumped gave up on me and even said to take me elsewhere and not there.

[@wilderboy8438]

@@Slayer602ttv i wonder this too! I ran out crying the last 2 times i tried going! I realized i can’t do conscious sedation even 😢

[@jamesharichards7946]

I really need to go to the dentist but havent been in along time but i wanna go but im nervous cause i have real bad teeth they have to pull

[@DentistJess]

Oh no I’m sorry to hear that! Thank you for sharing. If you’re really nervous maybe you can find a provider who offers sedation or anesthesia?? That being said, usually the longer you wait the harder it is to treat, and move invasive treatment is needed so I would definitely recommend trying to find someone to evaluate your oral health.

[@suerobinson4096]

Thank you for explaining so well & hitting right topics.

[@DentistJess]

My pleasure! So glad it was helpful!

[@wilderboy8438]

I really don’t like when someone says i get it yet continues to say i need to come in!!! Im not an idiot i know that!! i walk around with ppl judging me bc of my Rotting teeth daily and hate myself bc of it and have recently lost weight dramatically bc i can’t eat! I have dealt with and ignored the pain for yrs!! I literally need knocked out and dragged in 😭 Help

[@mjhart123]

Ive got a phobia because of 2 bad experiences where the injections (multiplle ones) didnt numb my nerve and they drilled into it and it was excruciating. Im scared of the pain should the injections not work again. Ive got bad teeth and in pain, im so scared but i need to pluck up the courage to get a emergency appointment. 😢 any advise on this would be great please

[@amienovit409]

Hi , my fear is the numbing . I need to get tooth # 17 root canaled or pulled and it is way back in my mouth. I have this fear because I was numbed and it went in my blood stream To my heart and my heart was racing to where I couldn’t breath . I’m so afraid to get numbed now I feel my throat closing just thinking of it

[@DentistJess]

That can happen due to the epinephrine that we administer with our numbing ( local anesthetic), you could ask them to administer it slowly and make sure to aspirate to ensure that its not in a blood vessel. Or see if your dentist can use one without epinephrine. The downside to those is they may not last as long, but it could be a good alternative.

[@MakenzieM-iw8oe]

For someone who has major dental anxiety music does help. but not much more than not having it at all. It’s more of the words they use like sweetie and girly because at my pediatric dentist they commonly use those words and it triggers me into know what is about to happen especially when they say breathe it really doesn’t help and I am very terrified of needles. To the point that I’m shaking so bad that I almost can’t breathe and I get light headed. and most the time I really just want them to comfort me better and explain everything to me even tho I already know everything that is going on

[@DentistJess]

Thanks for sharing, it sounds like you might benefit from some additional help such as sedation or general anesthesia. I’d recommend trying to find a provider in your area who may offer those services. I’m sorry to hear you find the dental office so triggering.

[@rebekahcarrillo9505]

My blood pressure is always high when I go to the dentist 🥺

[@DentistJess]

Oh no! Hopefully some of these tips will help☺️ lots of people get nervous going to the dentist!

[@unknown_7148]

Great video, how do you deal with being the patient?

[@DentistJess]

Thanks! I’m definitely a big supporter of trying to prevent dental disease in the first place. With the goal being to have the least invasive dental treatment possible 😊

[@unknown_7148]

@@DentistJess no wonder you've got such a nice smile :)

[@hannataylor2254]

I love your videos. What is the name of the office you work at

[@DentistJess]

Thank you :) Check out my website for more details! Click here: dentistjess.com/connect/

[@lucretiascott2229]

I had had very bad dental issues, one dentist slapped me and told me to set there and shut up. Another one didn't even try to num my gums and yanked a tooth out. No warning. So needless to say my mouth is in very bad shape.

[@DentistJess]

I am sorry to hear about your bad experiences. Hopefully you can find someone in your area to help with your mouth. Finding a dentist who does sedation or general anesthesia might be a good option if you are very fearful as it can help to reduce anxiety and give you a better experience going forward. Thank you for sharing.

[@yoland.a]

There is nothing I fear more than going to the dentist😭

[@DentistJess]

As a dentist I am sorry to hear that. I hope you can find someone to work with you and help you become more comfortable going to the dentist. You may benefit from finding a provider who is able to provide treatment with sedation or anesthesia.

[@mbc0350]

Hello, Dr. Jess. I just recently came across this video. Thank you for sharing tips on how to deal with dental anxiety. I want to ask a question specifically about the numbing process. In the Comments section, you replied to someone by stating that injections, if done slowly, should help (to control pain). However, unfortunately for me (!), I became fixated on your immediately preceding words, “dental anesthesia can be painful.” That instantly raised my anxiety level. I really wished you had worded it differently (!), perhaps by saying that injections do not have to be painful, which would have put me at ease. Please don’t take my remarks personally; I don’t mean to sound critical (especially since you made it plain that you are not judgmental of people, so I mutually respect you for that and want to be sensitive to your feelings). I guess my question in all of this is overall whether dental injections are painful after all, and if so, how dentists can make them more tolerable & comfortable. If I may also ask (that is, if it's okay with you), how do you feel personally about receiving oral injections (if you’ve ever had them)? Do you find them painful or no? I realize that everyone’s pain tolerance level is different, so as the disclaimer goes, “results may vary”! Hopefully whatever advice you give will help lessen my anxiety about the syringe/needle. Sorry for rambling! Thank you for any help you can provide.

[@DentistJess]

I have also received dental injections. Most dental schools have dental students practice giving them on each other. So the vast majority of dentists have had them personally. As far as pain goes- you’re correct in stating that pain is a personal perception. So what may be painful for one isn’t painful for another. In regards to that everyone has a different tolerance. However there are a couple things that can be done to help make the injections “painless”. Placing topical benzocaine onto a dry mucosal surface for 2 mins can help numb the area prior to the injection. Administering the anesthetic slowly (over abut a minute) can help. Slowly advancing the injection when depositing the anesthetic can help. And wiggling the lip or cheek as you go can also help. It triggers other prop rip rotors and helps mask the feeling of pain. Furthermore the site and type of injection given can increase or decrease if you feel it or not. I’ve literally had injections that I have not felt at all. Others less so. So there are a lot of factors that can influence it. Hopefully that’s helpful.

[@mbc0350]

@@DentistJess Yes, that was very helpful & detailed. Thank you for your kind & thoughtful response. If I have any other questions about anything related to dentistry, I hope you don't mind me asking them. Again, I really appreciate your help.

[@rabbitr3st]

I want to go to the dentist but I'm just scared it hurts or the dentist will judge me. also, I did braces last time and I received 4 injections for extractions and the injections hurt like mad..

[@DentistJess]

Oh no! I’m sorry to hear about your negative experience! Thank you for sharing! Make sure to let your dentist know you’re anxious beforehand so he/she can take it nice and slow for you. Getting the dental anesthesia can be painful- just ask them to inject very slowly next time and it should help! As fast as judgement goes, in the dental field we see all types and it’s not our place to judge patients. Simply to help! Don’t let that hinder you’re ability to get dental care! I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think😉

[@rabbitr3st]

@@DentistJess thank you for your reply. Is the injection necessary for cleaning? Is there anyway I can avoid it

[@DentistJess]

Typically yes… most cleanings don’t need anesthetic. However depending on your periodontal health, if you require a deeper cleaning you may want to be numb for it. Sometimes you can use the numbing jelly (topical) instead. Ask you hygienists what options they have!

[@rabbitr3st]

@@DentistJess thank you so much. I have been procrastinating my visit to the dentist although I know I shld go soon 😣 it's nice to have a dentist I can ask questions to

[@DentistJess]

Of course! Happy to help.

[@angelrocco2024]

Also some people with their dentist horror stories don't help you if your already terrified too 🙄🙄😫

[@DentistJess]

It’s true it can definitely make it more fearful for patients. But there are a lot of great healthcare professionals out there to help work with you and work towards alleviating your anxiety. Hopefully you can find someone whose a good fit for you.

[@hannataylor2254]

I always get nervous and anxious Last time I had a meltdown. I have Autism and anxiety

[@DentistJess]

Awe I am sorry you struggle with that, hopefully the next time you have an appointment you can implement some of my tips from this video :)

[@hannataylor2254]

@@DentistJess when I had my meltdown it was at one that was for a limited oral exam and x rays and I started getting upset and crying so the assistant that was doing it got the hygienist I always see to help calm me down. We think the situation was just overwhelming. my next one is in July and I’m already getting myself worked up about it but the hygienist I always see is awesome with me and knows my autism and anxiety and she always lets me play music on my phone with out headphones I always do country music.

[@SpaceGodzilla4242]

What does it say that I was even nervous about watching this video

[@DentistJess]

But you did it! And thats the first step :) Hopefully you can use some of the advice I recommended in this video the next time you have a dental appointment.

[@sarahmilner8483]

Im sure youre a great dentist but you're not good at this at all! You just made me feel worse, all you did was basically say yeah you're right to have all these phobias.. Not the way to go!! This was not reassurung6to me one bit

[@jessman8597]

I love your videos, but I feel you missed it on this one. If you were brutally gagged and raped by a masked man, how would you feel being laid down and having someone wearing a mask putting their hands in your mouth? That's the reality of trauma survivors. You say you are human but dentists no longer show us their faces. If you refuse to advocate for victims, who will. We really need you, but we feel you no longer care. The PPE may protect, but it's also traumatizing to some of us. Show us you care.

[@DentistJess]

Thank you for commenting and sharing some of your story. It sounds very traumatic and I’m sorry you had to go through something like that. It’s definitely something you could bring up with your dentist and let them know you feel uncomfortable- maybe there’s something they could do to modify treatment for you. But thank you for expressing your concern!

[@Slayer602ttv]

​@@DentistJess do you know any other dentists that can deal with anxiety patients who won't give up or scare them or no?