Any relaxation tips for dentalphobes going to the dentist?

December 9, 2004 10:55 AM

Any relaxation tips for dentalphobes going to the dentist? I've tried them all, and I'm still the most tense, problematic, patience-testing patient at my dentist's office. I hate to be like this to dentists and I hate to scare myself out of revisits. So how do I overcome my fear and relax?
posted by mathowie to grab bag (24 comments total)

Taking better care of my teeth has done it for me. I used to hate going to the dentist. I got into a routine of regular flossing and brushing and haven't had a dental problem in 2 years. I'm definitely more comfortable walking into the office now. I still tend to close my eyes the whole time though.
posted by soplerfo at 11:00 AM on December 9, 2004

Right here.
posted by adampsyche at 11:02 AM on December 9, 2004

Two words: HAPPY GAS.

ALL dentists have this secret weapon, you just have to ask for it. I used to have it during cleanings until a few years ago...I guess I've gotten over the fear.
posted by suchatreat at 11:04 AM on December 9, 2004

The only thing I haven't tried, aside from all the relaxation techniques I've read about, is music. Does that really work? Does it annoy the dental professionals, since they can't quite talk to you anymore?
posted by mathowie at 11:07 AM on December 9, 2004

I've got dental anxiety as well - I can't handle anyone putting anything into my mouth, and just the smell of a dentists office puts me on edge.

The one thing that I've found works 100% of the time is sleep dentistry. For basic checkups and cleanings, I don't need it, but if something needs to get filled, I will.

Basically, depending on your level of anxiety, they'll give you 1 or 2 doses of Halcion the day before your visit. If you're real bad, you take one the night before so you can sleep; and the other one gets taken the morning of your visit.

You have to have someone drive you to and from your appointment, and it basically takes up a good chunk of your day, because you're totally gone.

Chances are you won't even remember going to the dentist, but the work will have been done.

Barring that sort of option, the other chemical resolution is to talk to your doctor, or qualified dentist about getting a one-off prescription for valium. They do this sort of thing all the time for people who are claustrophobic and have to have MRIs done; I've not asked for it because it won't resolve my particular issue with dentists.
posted by icey at 11:09 AM on December 9, 2004

I can't tell you how to relax during the cleaning, etc, but I will give you a tip that my mom gave me:

If you're getting X-Rays, and you're the type to gag on the x-ray film (that carboard-tasting thing they make you bite down on) when they stick it in your mouth, lift your legs up off the chair as they start putting the film in. Concentrate on getting your (straight) legs as high as they will go, as if you were doing leg lifts in a gym. The effort required will take your mind off the gagging.

Normally I'd be disturbed by my mom giving me a tip on how to suppress the gag reflex but in this case it really works. I didn't think it would, but it did. I do it whenever I get X-Rays at the dentist.
posted by bondcliff at 11:12 AM on December 9, 2004

In my office, Matt, we have portable cd players for our patients to listen to, should they so choose. Drowns out the sound of the equipment. Drugs are also an option I'd recommend. Your dentist can give you a low dose of valium to help you relax.
posted by Ruki at 11:21 AM on December 9, 2004

My dentist has a helmet-like that plays DVDs for you while you're in the chair.

There's no silver bullet, but anything that distracts you from what's going on helps. Music is another option my dentist offers, and I'd suggest trying that. Find a dentist that is himself scared of the dentist, like mine is, and s/he'll have a host of techniques available.
posted by jeffmshaw at 11:21 AM on December 9, 2004

Perhaps a different dentist? It took a while for me to overcome my "fingerprints in the arms of the chair" attitude, but recently my current dentist filled a gum line cavity without anesthesia and I was painfree. He teaches at OHSU so he must have disciples with his approach and his type of equipment.
I do fortify myself with 600mg of ibuprofen - and tell him in case he does contemplate anesthesia. I also project an eyelid movie - usually of green fields, trees, flowers etc.
Not hearing the drills would be a plus.
posted by Cranberry at 11:23 AM on December 9, 2004

If you want a different dentist let me know (email in profile). My mom's a hygienist in downtown Portland. She is very picky and only works with really good dentists who she also likes, so I trust that her current boss is, therefore, both good and likeable.
posted by librarina at 11:41 AM on December 9, 2004

I make it a habit to tell the assistant of any sensitive teeth before the cleaning starts and to give me warning whenever something electric comes out - since I get plaque buildup very easily, I almost always need the ultrasonic pick in lieu of the regular hook one.

I make sure I've eaten well enough prior to the visit so my blood sugar doesn't get worse with stress - a banana is a quick bite to eat and has some natural beta blockers. I'll also try to schedule things for the morning so I'm still a bit sleepy prior to going in.

As a child, I listed to music via headphones for long procedures. I had to have my teeth shaved often (stupid mutant baby teeth) and music + gas was the only way I'd tolerate it.

These days, if I have to have a procedure other than a cleaning, I make the assistants tell me exactly what will be going on and how to proceed if I need them to stop for a bit (and if we can pause at all). Emotionally, I try not to show my general discomfort because I don't want to take advantage of this safety net. Being sleepy helps here.

Once when getting sealants, I had what felt like an allergic reaction to the compound and signaled I *really* needed to bail. Even though there was only 5 min left in the procedure, I could not continue that day, so we made plans to finish up the next day. I didn't concern myself with feeling silly about postponing things, as long as I got it done in time.

Luckily, I go to an office where no one makes you feel bad if your teeth are not up to par. Being told I need to floss a little more often and when I can expect to see the benefits (so I don't get frustrated) and what my current condition could deteriorate to is great. Being made to feel like a delinquent child (courtesy of my former dentist) in scolding tones and a complete weakling if something freaks me out does not make me want to come back to the office.

You can accept that you'll have to be taken to task every now and then, but if your dentist is being outright callous, it's time to move on.
posted by Sangre Azul at 11:43 AM on December 9, 2004

Matt-

Are you going to childbirthing classes with the Mrs.? If so, try to use those same breathing and focusing techniques while you're in the chair. I wasn't particularly afraid of the dentist, but after we had our first son, my dentist noted that I was not requesting as much anesthetic. My secret was using the childbirthing techniques while he worked on me, and they worked great.

I shit you not.
posted by Doohickie at 11:50 AM on December 9, 2004

I'm a (former) dental-phobe myself, and I cast another vote for relaxation-oriented breathing. I concentrate on good, slow, steady yoga breaths while I'm in the chair, and so if I get anxious all I have to worry about is getting through the particular inhalation or exhalation I'm on. Music is good too for distracting from unpleasant sounds (I find Revolver or Sgt. Peppers tend to be good choices, personally).

Also, my current dentist really put me at ease from the first time I saw him by explaining that I would always be in control -- the second I feel any emotional or physical discomfort, I can raise my hand and he'll stop whatever he's doing immediately and we'll decide on how to proceed together. The fact that he was never impatient or dismissive of my fears in itself helped dissolve quite a bit of the problem for me. So I'd suggest trying to find a dentist who may respond to you on the same level -- you may have to go to a few consulations in order to "interview" them, but that can really help you focus on your gut reaction to someone's treatment of you personally, without actually having to worry about any procedures being done that day.
posted by scody at 12:04 PM on December 9, 2004

Oh, and re: your question of whether the music might be a problem to the dentist/hygienist -- they've never seemed bothered by it to me; if they've needed to communicate with me, they've either simply raised their voices a little or tapped me gently. They've even got a catalog of CDs in their office to choose from, so it must be pretty common.
posted by scody at 12:11 PM on December 9, 2004

My dentist allows diazepam and a walkman, with The Orb going at full belt. It's the drill noise that does it for me, I wonder why that's so common? I find the music really helps to put me in a 'familiar' zone and anytime the dentist or I need to communicate, a tap of the shoulder or a raised hand does the job, as scody says. I really, really feel your pain. Good luck.
posted by punilux at 1:04 PM on December 9, 2004

To add a note in re: x-rays: if, like me, you have a gag reflex from hell, ask the dentist if a) you can use child-size slides and b) you can hold the rear ones in place with a finger or holder. Both increase your sense of control over the situation (something that should work even if you don't have a GRfH) and lessen the chance that you'll do something untoward (like throw up all over the dentist).
posted by thomas j wise at 1:06 PM on December 9, 2004

I used to be a really terrible dental patient. To the point where I went about 6 or 7 years without visiting, because I was just awful. Now I'm better. What did I do? Get another dentist. My dentist is a big honcho professor of dentistry at UOP who has a practice on the side, and he's just great. I'm completely comfortable with him.
posted by majick at 1:17 PM on December 9, 2004

Take a zanax before the appointment. My biggest irritation is the sound of the drill. Seems like I heard that upscale technoid dentists may use newer technology (laser?) which might help. Music helps, as does an understanding dentist. My experience with gas was that I hated it - made me anxious to be floating, but YMMV. Of course, if it's not near a nerve I white-knuckle it out 'cause I hate novacaine.
posted by Pressed Rat at 1:22 PM on December 9, 2004

Yes, a Xanax (or two) about an hour before the appointment is really the only thing that helps me. Of course, you should let your dentist know you've taken them to prevent any nasty interactions, etc.
posted by sixdifferentways at 1:29 PM on December 9, 2004

My dentist (in NYC) specializes in patients with dental anxieties of one sort or another and is also a licensed dental anaesthesiologist. I hadn't gone to the dentist for years, but I hoped my dentist's approach would help me get back on the wagon and it absolutely has. He and all of the staff at his practice are gentle, unhurried, and sensitive to what their patients are going through. I had my first work done there under intravenous sedation. Then I moved on to a much milder oral sedative, and now I'm going in there (for cleanings anyway, which is all I've needed the last few visits, knock on wood) without any sedation at all. Don't expect your insurance to necessarily cover the optional anaesthesia, but in my case at least it was worth the cost to get things taken care of and to get myself more relaxed about the whole business. If anyone wants his contact info just send me an email and I'll be happy to pass it along.
posted by Songdog at 5:23 PM on December 9, 2004

Nitrous oxide can help. Also, talk to your dentist. They're used to dealing with anxiety, and a good dentist will do things to make you more comfortable. My dentist in SF is great, and he has particular hygenists he uses for anxious patients.
posted by Nelson at 5:34 PM on December 9, 2004

I had a dental phobia until I went to a dentist who had the cd player (and encourged me to bring the most relaxing music I could find), the dvd player headset, nitrous, and Valium if I really couldn't hack it. I never needed the Valium (I've never even actually had one but I hear good things on the street) but knowing it was there, and his respectful manner toward pain and fear in general, made me so comfortable that I actually looked forward to a visit. (I did sample the nitrous, and I must say, it was lovely.)

Scody's right -- it's the dentist and his/her attitude that can best influence your comfort, and to me, the best way to find one is to canvass your local dentalphobes. A mean, unfeeling dentist gave me my fear. A kind, thoughtful one took it away, and I found him by asking a friend.
posted by melissa may at 8:38 PM on December 9, 2004

I agree with icey -- my last two visits to the dentist have been under the influence of (legally prescribed) Halcion. I have *no* recollection of the visits, and am not afraid to go back again.

Good luck.
posted by davidmsc at 9:02 PM on December 9, 2004

Just as a followup:

So I lived through my first cleaning & filling in two years but it wasn't pretty. My dentist is new at the game and hasn't developed much of a bedside manner. She wanted to start drilling my cavity without novacaine, which seemed crazy to me, and when I mentioned my surprise she and her assistant laughed. I eventually got a shot when she got close to a nerve, but I think I need a new dentist that doesn't make light of my anxiety and laugh about my bad teeth. I don't think she even realizes how unprofessional it is.

They hygentist was great through, a veteran that helped put me at ease even though I had some hella tartar build-up.
posted by mathowie at 12:51 AM on December 16, 2004