No need for your teeth and gums to suffer just because you're anxious about that upcoming visit to the dentist.
The American Dental Association (ADA) says adjustments can be made to ensure your next trip to the dental chair is less stressful. Make your dentist or hygienist is aware of those fears so they can make you more comfortable.
You may want to ask the dentist to prescribe a mild sedative that's safe to take prior to the visit. Find out if your dentist uses electronic dental anesthesia -- a needle-less alternative to Novocain using electricity to trick the body's nervous system from detecting pain. An ADA spokesman says this method eliminates numbness and saves you the anxiety over that "pinch" of the needle.
Relieving dental fears also may be as simple as scheduling the appointment first thing in the morning, before the stress of a full day increases your anxiety of opening wide and saying "ahh."
