How to Treat Patients with Dental Phobia

Getting your teeth cleaned is easy enough, right? Ask this to those with dental phobia, and they will probably reply with a loud NO! Many people will try their best to avoid going to a dentist despite knowing the health consequences of poor oral hygiene, owing to their dental anxiety. According to a recent study, almost 24.3% of people in the Netherlands had dental phobia. The findings suggested that dental fear is a remarkably severe and stable condition that lasts for a long duration. On the other hand, six in ten American adults are too scared to visit the dentist. As, a doctor, you may have seen your regular patients exhibiting some degree of anxiety during treatment. However, handling patients with a dental phobia is a lot more difficult. You need to be prepared in advance to keep things under control. Here are four tips that will prove helpful in this regard

1) Offer them a Warm Welcome

Usually, most dentists are super-busy. They have to take care of dozens of patients in a day. So, they will often open their dialogue with "How are your teeth?" or "What is wrong with your teeth?" This is not the kind of conversation that will put a patient with dental phobia at ease. Starting the checkup or treatment right away is likely to make them more anxious. So, avoid asking a lot of questions concerning their oral health. They may feel like you are interrogating them. Instead, try to maintain a casual and friendly tone throughout the treatment. Try to listen to their concerns, fears, and triggers carefully. The more you know the better. Greet them with a pleasant smile. Maybe talk about football or a recent movie. Gently, guide your patients through the treatment routine. You can tell them about the different stages of the treatment and ask which part is likely to make them anxious. Dental phobia comes with different types of fear. Some people are afraid of drilling. Others may fear needles or gagging, while a few people may feel embarrassed. If you know what scares them, you can readily calm your patients down accordingly.

2) Start on Time

For a patient with dental anxiety, coming for a 10:00 AM appointment and sitting around for hours is like going through hell. You are leaving the patient unattended in an environment they fear the most. It's simply awful! If you already know that the patent has dental phobia, arrange for them to see you at a time when you are unlikely to be late. Maybe you can take such patients first thing in the morning when not just your patient, but even you are feeling fresh. However, it is your call. So, choose a time that suits both of you.

3) Use Suitable Relaxation Techniques

You can also use a variety of relaxations techniques to put your patients at ease. Installing a television is probably the best way to distract your patients, apart from playing soothing music or guided imagery. Installing a TV almost always works in case of children who are easily distracted if their favorite cartoon is playing. Alternatively, you can also use controlled breathing exercises for nervous adult patients. Deep breathing can help control the heart rate, which in turn, reduces anxiety and panic. Just tell your patients to take three or four deep breaths slowly. The repetitive action of inhaling and exhaling through the nostrils is easy to follow. However, you can do your own research to find suitable breathing techniques. You can also use music to relax your patients during the treatment. Various studies conducted across different countries have concluded that music is an effective non-pharmacological approach to reduce dental anxiety. However, you should play soothing and relaxing music, not the party kind. You can also try playing your patient’s favorite music if you know what they like.

4) Give Your Patient as Much Control as Possible

Whether you have a corporate-styled setting specializing in cosmetic surgery and dental implant in Miami city or homely dental clinic for children in a remote town, your patients want to feel safe and comfortable irrespective of their age or gender. While the decor of your clinic and the friendly nature of your staff can help a great deal, allowing your patients to feel that they are in control is the best way to relax them. Give the patient as much control as possible. Stop barking orders at them. For example, instead of telling them to get in a particular chair, ask them to sit anywhere they feel comfortable. This is the best way to start your conversation. You can also take a break during the treatment if the patient says so.

Wrapping Up

Providing your anxious and fearful patients a positive dental experience is tough. However, being the dentist who regularly treats patients with dental phobia comes with perks of its own. The above four tips will help you treat such patients with relative ease. Once these patients become more aware of your pain-free and friendly dentistry, they will keep coming back. It's a win-win for everyone. (Image credit)