Nervous About the Dentist? Practical Ways to Make Your Visit Easier

If the thought of a dental appointment makes your stomach drop, you’re not alone, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Dental anxiety is common, and for many people it traces back to one difficult experience years ago. The trouble is that avoiding the dentist tends to make things harder over time: small problems that would have been simple to fix are left to grow, and the eventual visit feels even more daunting.

The good news is that there’s a lot that you, and your dental team, can do to make a visit feel manageable. Here’s what tends to help, and how sedation fits in when reassurance alone isn’t enough.

Start by telling us you’re nervous

It sounds simple, but it’s the most useful thing you can do. When you call or request an appointment, let us know that you feel anxious. It changes how we plan the appointment, and it gives us the chance to talk through comfort options with you before anything begins.

If it has been years since your last visit, that’s fine too. A lot of our patients come to us after a long gap, often because a previous experience put them off. There’s no lecture and no judgement about how long it has been. We take a look, explain plainly what we find, and work out a plan with you — often in stages if there’s a lot to address.

Dr. Gifford has particular experience caring for highly anxious patients, and his approach is personal and attentive rather than the feel of a typical corporate office. You can meet Dr. Gifford and the team before you ever sit in the chair.

Practical ways to make your visit easier

Everyone’s anxiety is different, so not every idea here will suit you. These are simple things many people find helpful:

• Pick a time that suits you. Some people prefer an appointment earlier in the day, so there’s less time to sit and worry beforehand.
• Agree on a stop signal. Before treatment starts, agree on a simple signal, such as raising your hand, that means “please pause.” Knowing you can stop at any point makes it easier to settle.
• Ask what’s happening. Not knowing what comes next feeds anxiety. Ask for each step to be explained before it happens — clear, easy-to-understand explanations are part of how we work anyway.
• Bring something to listen to. Music or a podcast through headphones can help take the edge off the sounds of treatment.
• Slow your breathing. Slow, steady breaths, with the out-breath a little longer than the in-breath, can help you feel calmer in the waiting room or the chair.
• Bring someone with you. Having a friend or family member come along can make walking through the door easier.

If it’s your child who’s nervous, the same principles apply: tell us when you book and we’ll take it slowly. Our pediatric dentistry visits are kept unhurried, and nothing happens to a child without being explained first.

How sedation dentistry can help

For some people, reassurance and a good plan are enough. For others, the anxiety is strong enough that simply sitting in the chair is difficult. That’s where sedation dentistry comes in. At our San Tan Valley office we offer two options.

Nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”)

Nitrous oxide is a gentle sedation you breathe in through a small mask. It starts to work within seconds, and the level can be adjusted during your appointment if you’d like to feel more or less of it. Many people say it leaves them feeling relaxed and warm.

Just as useful is how quickly it wears off. Nitrous oxide clears from your system within a few minutes once the mask is removed, and we give you pure oxygen at the end of your appointment to help that along. Most patients feel back to normal before they leave the chair and can drive themselves home.

Oral conscious sedation

Oral conscious sedation uses medication, taken before your appointment, to relax your body and mind. It’s a deeper level of relaxation than nitrous oxide, which makes it a good fit for more significant anxiety and for longer appointments. Because you take it beforehand, the calming effect begins before treatment starts — and for many people, the anticipation is the hardest part.

You stay conscious throughout, aware and able to respond to us, although many patients feel drowsy and remember little of the appointment afterwards. You’ll need someone to drive you to and from your appointment on the day.

Is sedation right for me?

That depends on how anxious you feel, the treatment you need and your medical history. Sedation isn’t suitable for everyone, so it’s something to talk through with Dr. Gifford before your appointment. Bring a list of any medications you take, including over-the-counter ones, so the right option can be chosen for you.

If you’d like to see more first, our short videos on sedation dentistry explain how it works, and our FAQ answers the questions patients ask most.

Why it’s worth taking the first step

Keeping up with routine visits is one of the simplest ways to keep dental treatment small. Decay caught at an exam is often a simple filling; the same decay found years later can mean a root canal and a crown. Regular cleanings and exams are where problems are found while they’re still small and easier to treat, and patients who come regularly tend to need less treatment overall.

If you’re already in pain or have swelling, please don’t wait for the nerves to pass — call the office. We provide emergency dental care, and sedation is available for patients in distress.

What your first visit looks like

Your first appointment is as much about getting to know each other as it is about your teeth. You’ll have time to ask questions and tell us about any worries. We’ll carry out a comprehensive exam, including x-rays and gum measurements, and explain what we find in an easy-to-understand way. From there, we design a treatment plan together that fits your needs. Read more about your first visit.