When you think about making your next dentist appointment, what do you feel? For many people, the feeling is not positive. Dental anxiety is very common. In fact, a study involving almost 500 patients showed that 58.8% of them had some anxiety. Age and income did not play a role at all, but women were more likely to have dental-related fear and anxiety than men. How interesting is that?
Personally, I was surprised that the number was so high. I do have a number of patients who express their fear and anxiety to me, but I am guessing that many patients choose to say nothing. These feelings are nothing to be ashamed of, and I hope after reading this blog post, you’ll find that you are definitely not alone, and that the team here at Inspire Dental Wellness is eager to ease your worries and make your experience a more positive one.
Here’s what we want our patients with dental anxiety to know:
Dental Anxiety is Nothing to be Ashamed About
We hope you realize now that many other people struggle with anxiety and fear surrounding the dentist. Please don’t be ashamed if this is you! We do not take it personally, and our main goal is always to make you feel comfortable. Sometimes, patients let us know when they call to make their appointment that they have anxiety or fear and we can talk through some options to help them feel more comfortable. Other times, patients will tell us when we call them back into the room. It doesn’t matter, as long as you let us know!
Speak Up If Something Doesn’t Feel Right
More than anything, we want you to feel like you’re in a safe space when you’re with us. That means being able to speak up if something is making you feel uncomfortable. Whether you need a break from the noise or the sensation of our tools or just want to stop and take a few deep breaths to manage your dental anxiety, please let us know.
We are always so grateful when a patient gives us the opportunity to make them feel more comfortable so we can move forward in a way that works better for them. Remember, we’re human too, and we’ve felt these same feelings before! We get it, and we’ll never judge you.
If you’re feeling any kind of pain whatsoever, please let us know. We have safe sedation options, and we also offer numbing reversal, so you can go back to your day without having to worry about when the anesthetic will wear off.
Amenities to Help You Relax
We do everything we can to make our patients feel comfortable, and that starts even before your appointment does… in our waiting room! While you’re waiting for your name to be called, feel free to grab a beverage from our beverage bar, and charge your phone up at our charging station. We have free WiFi throughout our office so if you want to escape into your favorite game (or meditation app), feel free to do so!
Once we call you back, we will help make you comfortable and cozy by offering you a soft blanket to cover up with, a soothing aromatic neck wrap, and Bose™ noise cancelling headphones. Put on your favorite album and drown out the sounds of your appointment! Our goal is to make you feel at home while you’re with us, and to help you manage your dental anxiety.
After we’re all done, we like to offer you a warm, scented towel. This helps you to freshen up and feel a little bit pampered after a cleaning or dental treatment. Sometimes, it’s the little touches that make the biggest difference, especially if you’ve been a little on edge during your appointment.
We’re Here for You!
Dr. Erica Zolnierczyk and the entire team at Inspire Dental Wellness are dedicated to your comfort. We believe that listening to our patients — about dental anxiety or anything else — helps us to provide them with the best care possible. You’re never rushed here, and we never make you feel like just another name in our appointment book. If you want to have a different dental experience, give our Orland Park dental office a call at 708-460-6699, or if you’re too busy to call, you can book your appointment online!