If you are one of the thousands of people in the UK, or indeed the world, who suffers from a phobia of dental professionals, rest assured that you are not alone.
While dental concerns are often reflected in young children, up to three out of four dental patients report feeling some sort of worry before attending a dental check-up, making it a very common anxiety to have! Of course, while it is somewhat straightforward to go through life without attending a dental appointment, if you find yourself suffering from an unrelenting toothache, then your option of avoidance is no longer feasible. Many patients who avoid dental check-ups are renowned for having teeth that require treatment and so, the moment your tooth hurts, you will need to book an appointment.
But, hang on! How can you just book an appointment if you have a phobia of your dentist in Glasgow? This brief guide will help you to, not only book that appointment, but to attend it and get that toothache under control!
Step1 – Choose a dental team
When you are searching for a dental team, look for one that is renowned for the positive treatment of nervous patients.
While one dentist near Glasgow may seem the same as another, call around and enquire about seeing the most friendly and approachable dental professional in the team for your first appointment.
Step 2 – Make an early morning appointment
We all know there is no worse way to spend a day than being full of anxiety.
If you book an appointment with the dentist from Glasgow and they only have afternoon slots, ask if there is any chance of having an early morning one. The last thing you want to do is turn up at your dental appointment in a more stressed out state! Earlier appointment slots allow you to get on with your day and not waste time sitting at home fretting.
Step 3 – Be honest from the word go
As soon as you open your mouth, your dental practitioner is going to know that you didn’t go for a check-up six months ago!
While it can feel intimidating to open up to a complete stranger, in this instance, it will help you feel safe in their care and will allow them to see how much help you need with anxiety management.
Step 4 – Bring in music or an audiobook as a distraction
Is it the sound of the drill that makes you nervous?
If it is, or if you just want a distraction while your dental team works on your mouth, then bring along your favourite audiobook or music to listen to while you are sitting in the chair.
Step 5 – Bring someone for support
And finally, if you really need some help walking into that surgery, bring along your partner, a family member or a friend to help you through those first appointments.
After a while, you will be accustomed to your new dental team and may be able to handle appointments on your own.