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Nervous When it Comes to Dentistry?

Fearful Patient

If You Have a Dental Fear

Let’s say you visit the dentist faithfully, and enjoy a high level of health. And yet, just before an appointment, you experience sweaty palms, increased heart rate, and you feel jittery and nervous.

You—and 150 million other people—have a touch of dental fear.

Dentistry today, with all the benefits of technology and technique, is virtually pain-free. So why are we jumpy?

Lots of reasons. Maybe a bad experience from long ago lingers in the memory. Families can also unwittingly pass along old fears, generation to generation. Or maybe you’re not really sure what’s going to happen.

One thing we do know: your level of anxiety contributes to how comfortable you are during treatment.

Handling Fear

An important way to control your fear is to admit it to yourself—and to us. Talking about your apprehension can make you feel better. Get specific. Take a long hard look at what’s really bothering you, and decide to gain the upper hand.

There are lots of therapies for dental fear that seem to work. Sometimes a little of this, a little of that.

One is simple distraction. The idea is to keep your mind off what’s bothering you by drawing your attention elsewhere. A favorite musician or comedy album playing on your headphones can go a long way to help.

The anxious patient can also benefit by practicing a form of meditation. Focus on breathing deeply, keeping muscles relaxed, and visualizing a soothing image like a day at the beach for instance.

Finally, perhaps the best motivation for feeling good about going to the dentist is the knowledge that dental care contributes to your health in a big way. Keep that in mind and we can make your visit a positive experience, both physically and mentally!

About Yuri Kaneda, DDS

Dr. Yuri Kaneda was born in Japan and immigrated to the US when she was 4 years old with her family. She lived in Ohio, Nebraska, and Illinois before finally settling in the San Diego area. A graduate of Bonita Vista High School, she went on to the University of California Berkeley where she obtained her Bachelors in Microbiology and Immunology. After working for 2 years in growth plate research at University of California San Diego, she went to the University of California San Francisco Dental School for her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Upon graduation, she returned to San Diego where she worked as an associate in the practice of Drs. Morimoto and Yaryan, her childhood dentist. She then started her own practice in 1995 and has been at her present location since 1999 which happens to be across the street from her high school!

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