Did you know that an estimated 30 to 40 million Americans live with the fear of going to the dentist? This condition, called dental anxiety, has been putting a lot of Americans’ oral health at risk.
What Exactly is Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety, also called ‘dental fear’, is a condition that manifests in many ways and is experienced to different degrees. Dental fear causes people to lose sleep before their scheduled dental appointment. They may also feel uneasy while waiting for their turn or completely avoid going to the dentist altogether. While we have yet to find categorically factual and proven causes for dental fear, available literature states that most people who admit to having it usually attribute the fear to negative past experiences. Others attribute their anxiety to the embarrassment of showing their mouths or fear of feeling helpless. Sometimes it’s just about having a negative general perception of dentists and dental procedures.
People with dental anxiety (or worse, dental phobia) place their oral health and overall wellbeing at risk by delaying and foregoing a visit to the dentist. There are many things that a person can do to cope with fear. However, there is just as much that a dentist can do to help ease the patients’ anxiety.
7 Ways You Can Help Your Patients Deal with Dental Anxiety
From mastering small talk to creating distractions that will keep anxious patients’ minds off their fear, here are some ways you can help your patients ease up before their appointment:
Provide Ways to Assess Dental Fear
The best way to help combat anxiety is to know when the patient has it and to what degree this anxiety exists. There are many resources available on how to assess patient anxiety, like this multi-point questionnaire.
Offer Pre-Treatment Sessions Whenever Possible
Unless the patient’s case is particularly urgent, it may do him/her a lot of good to get a consultation before the actual treatment. This way the patient can get acquainted and comfortable with the dental chair. This would also be a good time for the dentist to explain the procedure in a careful and understandable way.
Create Good Distractions
Many people who admit to having dental anxiety, especially those who have had negative experiences with a dentist, say that some of their most common triggers include the sound of the drill or the smell of the dental facility. Drown out the noise of the drill by playing some calming music or mask the smell with something pleasant.
Develop Trust Through Good Communication
Proper communication is key to relieving dental anxiety. In one study, researchers found that patients’ memory of the pain they experience during their dental procedure is largely due to how their dentists treat them. It is important to speak calmly, to try to start small talk with patients, and most importantly to show that you empathize with their anxiety instead of being dismissive. Keep in mind that feelings of fear and discomfort are very real for them. Building trust and rapport with patients that suffer from dental anxiety requires them to know that you understand what they are going through.
Assert Professionalism
The most important factor in gaining a patient’s trust is to let them know that you are reliable and that you know exactly what you are doing. This reassures the patient that you will know how to perform the procedure in the quickest and least horrifying manner possible. You can achieve this by thoroughly and confidently explaining their diagnosis and the procedure. The patient may not always completely understand it with medical accuracy. However, they will gain confidence in you when they see how knowledgeable you are about their case.
Create a Professional Atmosphere
Trust is gained not only when the patients see how professional you, the dentist, are. Other things factor in such as the neatness of your office, the cleanliness of your linens and overall clinic, the friendliness of your staff, etc. Give them a reason to trust not only you but also your practice!
Wear the Right Uniforms
Visual cues are essential in creating a professional and reliable atmosphere for your anxious patients. Aside from ensuring your space is clean (and that certain sterilizing equipment is clearly visible), wearing the right uniforms matters. The sight of old, dirty, or poorly managed dental uniforms are discouraging and contrary to a professional and reliable image! Always make sure your lab coats are sparkly clean and, if using scrubs for yourself and your staff, pick calming colors.
Let Unitex Help Deal with Dental Anxiety!
Dental uniform management should not be a burden and should never get in the way of delivering great service! Contact Unitex today for linen services that are reliable, high-quality, and hassle-free – call 866-864-8399 to get started!