Tips to Cope With Dental Anxiety for Adults and Children

If the thought of going to the dentist makes you anxious, you're in good company. It's estimated that 15.3% of adults worldwide experience dental fear and anxiety,¹ preventing many from getting important dental treatments or regular checkups. But missing appointments and foregoing recommended dental care can not only lead to dental health issues but can also have long-term effects on your overall health.

We're digging deeper into dental anxiety and offering tips to help adults and children cope.

What Is Dental Anxiety?

Dental anxiety can cause a person to feel tense, stressed or anxious at the mere thought of going to the dentist. These feelings can vary in intensity, with some people experiencing severe enough anxiety and fear of going to the dentist that it classifies as a phobia called dentophobia or odontophobia, which is a type of anxiety disorder.²

People experience dental anxiety for different reasons. It may stem from a previous negative experience at the dentist or feeling embarrassed about how your teeth look.

Dental anxiety may also be triggered by a fear of specific things you may encounter during a dental appointment, such as:

• Anesthesia
• Drills and certain oral care devices
• Blood
• Pain²

7 Tips to Cope With Dental Anxiety

If you or a loved one is struggling with fear of the dentist, these suggestions may help reduce dental anxiety and dental phobia so you can get the dental health care you need, when you need it.

1. Schedule appointments wisely

Try to make dental appointments for days when you don't expect to be stressed anyway, especially time-stressed. Avoid times when you have a major meeting at work, a stacked work or home life schedule, or are addressing other health issues.

2. Lean on friends and family

Vocalizing your dental phobia can help reduce anxiety. Talk with a friend, family member or qualified therapist about specific parts of the dental experience that make you nervous — including any bad experiences you may have had in the past. Consider asking someone to attend the dental visit with you — the right person can offer comfort and help you feel more relaxed.

3. Talk to your dental team

Share your feelings, so the team can adapt to make your dental experience as comfortable as possible — including options for controlling discomfort during or after your visit. Ask questions to ensure you understand what will happen during your dental exam or procedure. Ask the team to let you know as they're about to start each new step in the process.

4. Take dental treatment time-outs

Pick a designated signal, such as raising your hand, that will let your dentist and dental hygienists know when you need to take a break.

5. Invite distractions

Watching movies, listening to music or podcasts, playing with a fidget spinner or stress ball and similar activities can give you a pleasant distraction from your dental phobia. You may need to bring your own, but many dental offices today do offer devices and headphones you can use.

6. Try relaxation techniques in the dental chair

Relaxation strategies have been shown to help relieve dental anxiety and improve the patient experience.³ Some things you can try are visualization, such as conjuring up images of your “happy place," muscle relaxation and meditation.

7. Explore safe medications and other treatments

Discuss the possibility of sedation dentistry with your dental practice. You can also explore other proven therapies, such as hypnosis, acupuncture and mental health tactics, and desensitization and cognitive behavioral therapy, all of which have been shown to be effective in easing dental anxiety.³

Helping Children With Dental Anxiety or Dental Phobia

If your child is afraid of the dentist, some of the dental anxiety tips above may work for them, too — like having mom or dad in the room, using a “stop" signal and trying distracting activities. Here are a few other tactics to try.

1. Let your child know what a dentist does, why it's important to visit and what will happen during the exam. Keep it positive.
2. Choose a dentist who is experienced and comfortable working with children. That could be a family dental practice or a pediatric dental specialist.
3. Give your dentist a warning in advance that your child has a dental phobia or “fear of the dentist." This lets the team prepare to make an extra effort to give your child a comfortable dental experience, like providing praise and other positive reinforcement.
4. Offer a special reward for good behavior at the dentist. Depending on your child's age and interests, this could be as simple as some stickers, a coloring book or a special toy.

How Technology Can Help With Dental Anxiety

Technology in dentistry can make staying on top of your oral health easier if you have dental anxiety.

Here are some options to consider when choosing a dentist or to discuss with your dental health provider that may help:

1. Teledentistry. While not all dental appointments can be handled virtually, you may be able to limit your time at the dentist's office using the camera on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Some dental practices offer teledentistry for things like general consultations, post-operative monitoring, dental emergency triage and orthodontic patient monitoring. Check with your dentist to see if they offer virtual appointments or consider finding a dentist who does.⁴
2. Virtual reality (VR). Some dentists offer virtual reality (VR) systems to help with anxiety and pain management. A VR system can distract your brain from worry and pain surrounding dental treatment by immersing you in an interactive, virtual world, complete with sights, sounds and motion. Studies have shown that using VR can reduce patient reports of pain during medical procedures, including periodontal treatment.⁵ In one study, pain relief during procedures where patients used VR was twice that delivered by morphine.⁴
3. Electronic dental anesthesia. For those whose dental anxiety is triggered by anesthesia or needles, electronic dental anesthesia may help as it offers pain relief without needles or medication.⁴ Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is one such option. It uses a small device to deliver low-voltage electrical current via electrodes placed on the skin that the patient controls. It lets you select level the of anesthesia you're most comfortable with.⁶

Regular dental care — along with good at-home dental habits — are the best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy, and your smile white and bright. Plus, good oral health supports your overall health and well-being and reduces the risk of certain diseases, including certain cancers and Alzheimer's.⁷ Trying a few of the ideas above to overcome dental anxiety and dental phobia can be well worth the effort.

CareCredit Financing for Dental

Regular dental checkups are important to help prevent, identify and treat dental problems before they become more advanced. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for dental exams, cosmetic dental procedures, and other costs that insurance doesn't cover — to help you keep your pearly whites bright and healthy.* Apply today and use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist near you that accepts CareCredit. Make the most of your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App. You can find a provider on the go, manage your CareCredit account, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts, and videos.

Author Bio

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for almost two decades. Her work has appeared in Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today, and more.