People who are afraid to visit the dentist in Tunbridge Wells often decide to avoid going altogether. However, it is important for a person’s oral health and general wellbeing to go for regular check-ups. Here is a guide to why it is so important to go to the dentist and how any fear or anxiety in relation to this can be overcome.

Safeguarding health

For the person who does not appear to have any issues with their teeth or gums, visiting the dentist might seem to be unimportant. However, this is the best time to get a check-up as there may be minor issues that the patient is unaware of that can be swiftly resolved. For example, they might not realise that they have the beginnings of a cavity. If this is caught early on, it need not progress to cause any damage to the tooth.

Many people are unaware that they are in the early stages of gum disease. The dentist can identify this at a check-up and take steps to remedy the condition before it becomes irreversible. If gum disease is not treated, it can cause tooth loss which can be very upsetting for the patient and result in a dip in their confidence.

Untreated gum disease has been shown to have an impact on the health of the body as a whole. It can contribute to a wide range of conditions, such as cardiovascular and respiratory disease, dementia and arthritis.

Make an early appointment

Many people who feel anxious about having a check-up find that making an appointment for as early in the day as possible can help. This means that there is much less time to worry about it and allows the patient to get their visit out of the way without allowing anxiety to build up over the course of the day.

Learn breathing techniques

Deep breathing has been shown to be very effective at tackling nervousness regarding any situation perceived to be challenging. The patient who takes the time to learn and practice deep breathing should be able to arrive at their appointment feeling calm. One technique that many find useful is known as box breathing: breathe out for 4 seconds, hold for 4, inhale for 4 seconds then hold again for 4. It takes a little practice but can work well. There is a wide range of techniques for deep breathing, so it’s worth trying different ones until finding one that fits the individual.

Talk to the dentist

If the patient is feeling nervous or anxious about having a check-up, the dentist will want to know about this. If they explain how they are feeling, the dental professional will be more than happy to assuage any doubts or fears and explain exactly what is going to happen during the appointment. This can help as anxiety is often borne from not having the knowledge about a particular situation.

If treatment is required, the dentist can offer the nervous patient some assistance in the form of sedation so that they are less aware of what is happening.

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