Author: Chris Baker

How to Deal With Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety is a very common problem across the UK, with over 50% of Brits choosing just to avoid their appointments. However, it was also found that most toothache root from untreated infections, meaning that due to this anxiety, a lot of dental issues are going untreated. So, how can you combat your dental anxiety and ensure a good level of dental health? We’ve put together a list of key things to consider when battling dental anxiety, making sure that you can get the dental treatment you need. 

Research your dentist before your appointment 

To make sure you’re going to be comfortable with your new practice and dentist, it’s best to research them before booking your appointment. Some dentists may even specialise in anxious patients. A good place to get a feel for your dentist is through reading customer testimonials. At Dental Perfection, we strive to offer our patients high quality, gentle and friendly care. You can read our customer testimonials here. 

Communicate anxieties with your dentist

By telling your dentist in advance that you are anxious about your appointment or treatment, they can make sure they make you as comfortable as possible. This could be by explaining the treatment they are going to do, or how the appointment will run. This will help put your mind at ease and reduce any stress. 

Focus on your breathing

Once you’re actually in the chair, a great way to manage your anxiety is to control and focus on your breathing. A great practice is to hold your breath in through your nose for about four seconds. Hold this breath for three seconds and then exhale slowly over about 5 seconds. Wait a few seconds before taking another breath and then begin the process again. This should help to keep you calm and relaxed during your treatment. 

Listen to music 

Taking headphones to your appointment and listening to calming music during your treatment, can help to remove yourself from the situation and reduce stress and anxiety. This can help to distract your brain from any treatment you are undergoing, whilst also keeping you relaxed and calm. It’s worth discussing with your dentist if this is possible beforehand.

Agree a hand signal

Before you begin your treatment or appointment, agree a hand signal with your dentist to let them know to stop if it gets too much. A lot of dental anxiety comes from worry about not being able to talk or communicate during an appointment. By agreeing to hand signals, you can be reassured that treatment can be stopped if you need it to be. 

Avoid Caffeine 

Caffeine is a stimulant, and its jittery effects on the body can send someone with anxiety into fight or flight mode. This is a similar reaction to when your body experiences fear or stress, therefore over-stimulating yourself with caffeine can increase anxiety levels or even cause a panic attack. 

Choose a stress-free appointment time

Book an appointment at a time when you’re least likely to be stressed or under pressure. This may be a weekend appointment so you don’t have to rush back from work to your appointment. Or, you could book an early morning appointment so you don’t spend the whole day worrying about it. 

Ask about numbing gel 

If your anxiety mainly stems from a fear of needles and, in particular, the pain – you can ask your dentist to provide numbing gel. At dental perfection we are happy to do this for customers who are worried about pain and discomfort. By requesting numbing gel, you can reassure yourself that you have some sort of barrier to needle discomfort and pain. 

Start small 

If you’ve avoided dental appointments for a stretch of time due to your anxiety, then it’s best to start small with a check up appointment so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Booking yourself in for a particularly painful treatment is only going to heighten anxiety levels. 

We’re happy to support any of our patients through their dental anxiety. You can view our dental treatments to find more information on what we can offer, and how we help to calm nervous patients. Or you can call, or book an appointment to talk through your worries.

What are the Best Teeth Whitening Options?

As the popularity of social media and its effects on us rise, everyone is striving to achieve new beauty standards including perfectly white teeth. So how can you achieve this for yourself and what’s important to consider? Each mouth and set of teeth are different, so different methods will work better for different people. Therefore it’s important to do your research. 

You’ll want to find a reputable dentist to complete your teeth whitening process. You can find our customer testimonials at Dental Perfection here. Teeth whitening is a dental procedure and can therefore only be legally carried out by a dentist. Done wrong, whitening can cause more problems such as dental pain or hypersensitivity. There could be an underlying health problem (such as gum disease) that is causing the discolouration in your teeth. If you have underlying dental problems, whitening your teeth may make them appear healthier, when in actual fact they are not. It’s always a good idea to book a consultation with a reputable dentist to get your oral health checked before completing a whitening procedure.  

Seeing a Hygienist

Sometimes all that is needed to create a whiter teeth appearance, is the lifting of surface stains. This can usually be achieved in a quick 30-40 minute appointment with a dental hygienist. This is why it is important to see a hygienist before beginning a whitening procedure -you may not need to use such a corrosive method. It’s also beneficial in some instances to get this done before whitening to achieve a more even and whiter smile for your end results. 

Certain whitening methods should be avoided as they are ineffective and bluntly a waste of money, they can also be damaging to your teeth and overall dental health. Often these products will not contain a high enough amount of whitening substances, as they are illegal to be sold over the counter.

Over-the-Counter Whitening Products

Over the counter whitening toothpastes and powders should be avoided as they do not work to change the internal colouring of the tooth. Toothpaste does not have a high enough dosage of whitening agencies to cause effect . At best, these options can remove surface stains, but can also cause damage to the protective enamel on your teeth. If you’re looking to improve your general oral health, it’s best to book an appointment with a hygienist and benefit from the long term effects. 

Teeth Whitening Procedures

Professional Teeth Whitening

Receiving professional teeth whitening from someone with skill and experience can leave your teeth with a whiter appearance, without causing any damage to your gums or enamel. However, there are a couple of different methods professionals use to deliver teeth whitening, each with their own individual benefits. They may fit you with a custom tray which will then be filled with whitening gel. You will then wear this at home for a specific advised amount of time over a series of days. 

Some professionals also offer in-chair whitening. This is a one off treatment that provides an instantly whiter smile appearance.

Internal Bleaching

This option is only suitable for non-vital teeth, or those that have been discoloured over time. Usually these teeth would receive a root canal treatment after trauma. Bleach is placed inside the tooth for the amount of time it takes to achieve the desired shade of white. Once this has been achieved the bleach will then be removed. 

Veneers and Crowns 

Veneers are a thin molding made from porcelain. This is then bonded to the front of an existing tooth. Veneers are used to correct discoloured, stained, chipped, crooked and misshapen teeth. Veneers are a lifetime commitment once they have been fitted. They will need regular dentistry as they can chip and discolour over time. A dentist will discuss whether or not this is a suitable option for you. 

Online Teeth Whitening Kits

Teeth whitening kits available for purchasing online are not the same as professional whitening treatments, even though they are commonly misconceived as such. The amount of active bleaching agent included with the whitening gel can often be heightened to dangerous levels. If you are going to use an online whitening kit it is important to do your research and check the products’ ingredients. If they don’t contain whitening agents such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, then they will probably contain ingredients such as sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate or citric acid, all of which will not work towards changing the internal colouring of your teeth. 

They are abrasive enough to remove surface stains, however at the cost of damaging your teeth’s enamel which can not be grown back. If there is peroxide in the ingredients, note the percentage and check that it complies with dentist guidelines (6%).  Be very careful of products that contain more than 1% peroxide. This is illegal to be sold over the counter (not prescribed by a dentist) and can be very damaging to your teeth. The tray received will also not be fitted to your teeth which can cause the issue of the whitening agent spilling out into your mouth and being swallowed. This can cause further health complications. Although dental whitening may be more expensive, it will be more effective and beneficial to your health over time. 

Here at Dental Perfection we offer a range of whitening procedures, and with a consultation we can choose the right procedure to comply with your current dental health without damaging your teeth.