Comfortable conversations - Dental anxiety
Published on 12/07/2024
As part of our Comfortable Conversations series, we spoke to Catherine Rutland, Clinical Director at Simplyhealth and Denplan, to learn more about dental anxiety. We looked at what dental anxiety is, how often dentists see it, and what you can do to manage your anxiety if you're struggling.
What is dental anxiety?
Going to the dentist can be a nerve-wracking experience for patients. Although it may appear irrational, this fear can be triggered by dental equipment, fear of the cost, clinical settings, or even dental lingo.
At most appointments, you’ll find the clinician you see is always ‘doing’ something, even if it is just an examination. This experience is quite personal, which differentiates it from other health appointments, where there is usually a distance or a table separating you from the healthcare professional.
- Catherine Rutland, our Clinical Director
How often do you expect to see dental anxiety in the practice? And what are the symptoms of dental anxiety?
We see dental anxiety regularly in practice, and it's pretty normal to find patients with some initial nerves. Some people are nervous about treatment or the costs, and some struggle to walk through the door or pick up the phone. It has a broad scale and can go all the way up to a phobia.
We encourage everyone to be open and express any initial worries to the practice, but new patients are not always comfortable enough to talk about it, which is why we look for a few warning signs. These are variable but can include cancelling appointments, hesitancy getting in the chair – sweaty hands, fidgeting, or trouble communicating.
What are some things a patient can do if they have dental anxiety? Have you heard any positive stories that you would like to share?
If you're suffering from dental anxiety, the best thing you can do is be honest with your dental team—the more regularly you go, the better it gets. When the team is aware of your concerns, they can address them quickly and make sure appointments suit your needs. Over time, you will build a relationship with your dentist to gain the confidence to have regular appointments.
Also, do your research. Ask your friends and family about practices near you and whether they are good with nervous patients, or check their website to see if they mention anything.
Lots of patients over the years have had positive stories where their anxiety has subsided or completely disappeared. One thing I have learnt from hearing patient stories is to always take it slowly, take small steps, and you’ll find it's very achievable to face your fears.
How can a Simplyhealth Dental Plan help with dental anxiety?
A dental plan can help you budget across the year, and there are entitlements for accidents and emergency treatment. This gives you financial security and potentially reduces anxiety about paying for care.
Our plans also help encourage you to attend regular appointments. This helps you build a relationship with the dentist and practice staff and feel more comfortable; they’ll understand your anxiety and help you work through it.
A final aspect is preventative care. Having regular appointments and looking after your teeth means problems can be found and dealt with early, potentially preventing bigger, more stressful procedures later down the line.
What are the impacts of dental anxiety on the patient?
If you don't visit the dentist – whether that’s down to anxiety or other reasons – problems could get much worse. You may need more treatment, and you might develop poor oral health – storing up problems, pain, more anxiety, plus high costs.
I always say that early intervention is the best course of action. If you are really struggling, ask family and friends who they see. A friendly face, trusted by those that you trust, can make a world of difference.
