Dentists Can Help Patients Overcome Fear And Stay Positive

At some point in our lives, we all have been afraid to go to the dentist. It’s just the fear of someone going through our mouth with all sorts of different instruments. While most individuals eventually overcome this fear, not all do. These patients find it hard to go to the dentist due to fear that ranges from being checked to operated on. Most of them have anxiety that usually relates to pain.

As dental professionals, there are certain steps that can be taken to help patients overcome this fear. These step help patients overcome their anxiety and make their visits more pleasant.

1. Converse with your patients

To help ease the mind of patients, it is important that you form a relationship with them. So before you start examining them, small talk with them to get to know them a little bit. This helps calm the patient down and also forms a personal connection with them. This connection helps them relax and trust you as a practitioner more.

Make sure when you converse with your patient, it is not your usual “doctor talk.” Ask them about their day and go from there. The purpose of the conversation is to connect with them which will allow them to relax.

2. Talk to them about their fear

Dental anxiety isn’t a new phenomenon and it is up to you as a dentist to make sure your patients are comfortable. So rather than ignoring their anxiety, ask them how you can help with it? Discuss with them exactly what the reason behind their anxiety is and address it. Explain to them the procedure and also mention how you can alter it to relieve some fear. If it is being scared to have a procedure done then you can even discuss anesthesia and sedation with them.

The more solutions and information you share with the patient, the more positive they will be towards the treatment. One reason behind such anxieties is the fact that individuals aren’t aware of exactly what is to happen and how.

3. Discuss a stop signal

Some patients remain anxious, no matter what. To help ease their minds a little, you can discuss having a stop signal with them. The signal can be something as simple as the patient raising their hand. The stop signal will prompt you as a dentist to stop the procedure once the signal is shown. Having a signal gives the patient some control over the treatment. This shows them that if the procedure gets too much for them, they can stop it which provides them with a sense of ease.

4. Be transparent about procedures

As mentioned before, anxiety tends to take over when individuals aren’t aware of what is to happen. Explaining to your patient in detail the procedure can help reduce fear as they are more aware of what is to come. Be sure to leave no details out so if you plan on using anesthesia, tell them exactly what it does and how they will feel when anesthesia is applied. By being transparent with your patients, you get their approval for the procedure and also let them know what is to come so there is no surprise for them during the procedure.

5. Create a friendly ambiance

The interior decor of your practice plays a part in soothing fear of patients. Don’t have posters of gum disease or videos of dental procedures playing as patients wait in the waiting room. You want them to relax not trigger their phobia even more. Instead, what you can do is decorate your office with posters of healthy teeth and bright smiles. Have soft music playing in the waiting area to help patients relax as they wait for their turn to be treated.

6. Ensure your patient is comfortable

As the patient sits in the chair, you want to make sure they are as comfortable as possible. In this way, you don’t add to their discomfort. Offer them a blanket and position the chair so they are as comfortable as they can be. You can also offer some sort of distraction for them so they don’t have to think too much about the procedure. Give them a headset with music playing or have a TV installed in the room so they can watch something they like as the procedure goes on.

While your approach may slightly differ, the above approach has been trialed and tested by dentists in Ocala and has worked for over a decade. Forming a relationship and always putting your patients first is the key to any successful dental practice and it all starts with helping patients overcome their dental anxiety.

About The Author

Dr. Andrew Carlson is a registered dentist and a member of ADA. He is part of the VIPcare Dental team: a team of trusted dentists in Ocala, FL that values their patients and caters to all their dental needs.

Positive Words Research – Here’s How Dentists Can Help Patients Overcome Fear & Stay Positive

Dentist and patient

Top 25 Positive Words In English To Be Motivated And Happy

The English language is full of many beautiful and positive words.  Often these words trigger a specific memory, pleasant thought, or a dream in our minds. The words that appeal to us are often very personal and the feelings they trigger are essentially unique to you.  Here is my list of the top 25 positive words in English that appeal to me.

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Ineffable

Ineffable means too great or extreme to be described or expressed in words. It reflects that feeling of awe such as what you feel when your first child is born.

Serendipity

Serendipity is used to describe the occurrence and development of events by chance in a beneficial or happy way. That stroke of luck comes at exactly the right time, out of the blue.

Ethereal

Ethereal means extremely light and delicate so that something appears not to be of this world. I associate this word with heavenly and beautiful things, such as dragonfly wings or a voice that gives you chills.

Iridescent 

Iridescent is a word to describe seeing luminous colors that change when seen from different angles. This positive word reminds me of carefree days blowing bubbles and watching them float away.

Epiphany

Epiphany is that sudden moment of realization or revelation. That light-bulb moment often changes your life. Everyone needs an epiphany now and then.

Luminescence

Luminescence is when a substance gives off the light without being heated such as phosphorescence and fluorescence. The fun of chasing lightning bugs or stirring up the sea and being rewarded with an eerie green glow.

Eloquence

Eloquence is persuasive and fluent in writing and speaking. Don’t we all wish to be eloquent at the right times? What a bonus when you can give a speech and engage your entire audience!

Sonder

Sonder is the realization that every random passerby is living a vivid, complex life full of their own ambitions, worries, friends, and routines, in which you might be an extra on a park bench or a lit office on their route. As a people watcher, this positive word resonates.

Effervescence

Effervescence means enthusiastic and vivacious, and also the bubbles in your fizzy drink. This reminds me of the excitement of a child, perhaps even tasting their first fizzy drink.

Magnanimous

Magnanimous means being forgiving or generous to someone who is not a friend or is less powerful than you. I think we all need to be magnanimous and this world would be a better place.

Benevolent

Benevolent means being kindly and well-meaning. Similar to magnanimous, except this kindness being expressed to anyone. Being benevolent has its own rewards, and it makes you feel great too.

Amusement 

Amusement means enjoying entertainment or finding something funny.  The world needs more laughter and we should be able to find amusement in most situations, even laugh at ourselves.

Contentment

Contentment is a state of satisfaction and happiness.  I believe that for most of us, life is about striving for contentment. Appreciate the small things to find contentment in your daily life.

positive words Iridescent

Determination

Determination is a firmness of purpose.  Achieving anything in life takes determination. Set the goal and succeed through determination.

Dignity

Dignity is being worthy of respect or honor.  I like to believe everyone should be afforded basic dignity as a right especially our elders, who have so much to share if we listen.

Flourishing

Flourishing means thriving, developing successfully and rapidly. We all want something to flourish: a flourishing bank balance, perhaps a flourishing business, a flourishing garden. What a versatile and evocative word.

Harmonious

positive words Harmonious

Harmonious has three lovely meanings tuneful, forming a pleasing whole, free from dissent and disagreement. I like the peaceful feel this word has, like music from a waterfall.

Lustrous

Lustrous is basically a nicer word for shining. I like to think of this positive word as being used for hair and eyes, giving a description extra depth and reflection.  Who wouldn’t want lustrous hair?

Noble

Noble has a number of meanings, but I like the one which refers to a person showing high moral principles or good personal qualities. I like to think that our aim as humans should be to strive to be noble.

Respect

Respect is the feeling of admiration due to their abilities, achievements, or qualities. It also refers to giving the necessary regard for other people’s rights and feelings. Although for most people, respect is something that is earned, we should offer basic respect to all humans.

Laughter

Laughter is the sound of someone laughing. This sounds more than almost any other has a way of lifting spirits. Laughter is contagious and makes us feel good.

Tranquility

positive words Tranquility

Tranquility is the state of being calm and tranquil. We all need this sort of peace in our lives now and then to regroup.

Unconditional

Unconditional means there are no conditions attached. I prefer this word as part of the phrase unconditional love. A love that transcends everything, there are no ifs and buts, a love that offers everything without demanding anything.

Smiling

Smiling is laughing in a smaller, quieter way. Turning those corners of the mouth up showing a happy look. Smiling is also contagious, and when it is genuine, it lights up your whole face.

Hope

Hope is the expectation that something will happen. Even when situations are dire, keeping hope alive is what makes the human spirit fight through the worst of situations. Never lose hope.

Those are my top 25 positive and uplifting words, what are yours? Use this resource when you need information related to one positive word, positive vocabulary, 100 positive words, beautiful positive words, positive vocabulary words with meaning, some positive words, strong positive words,

How to Transform Anger with Positive Words: Find Peace

Knowing how to transform anger with positive words and an amazing tool. Anger can be transformed into the power of positive words if you know how to guide yourself through this transformation.

The energy of anger is an energy of bitterness which is a negative energy. Look at negative energy as a lack of positive energy. So feeling “bitter”, feeling “bitterness” is a lack of a certain positive energy. Research the word “bitter” by searching mainly the antonyms of this word.

Positive Words Research findings reveal that the energy of feeling angry is a lack of focus on the following positive words: pleasant, fortunate, happy, friendly, sweet, gentle, pleasant, mild, grateful, mellow, thankful, appreciative.

When you feel angry or bitter or enraged, it feels difficult to quickly switch to the positive energy represented by the above listed positive words. Therefore, use the following affirmations to call upon yourself this positive energy:

Fortunate

I am fortunate and fortunate is me.

I love feeling fortunate and fortunate energy loves me.

I am grateful for feeling fortunate and fortunate energy is grateful for me.

I seek the energy of feeling fortunate and fortunate energy is also seeking me, so that it can fill me, lay and flow through me.

Sweet

I am sweet and sweet is me.

I love feeling sweet and sweet energy loves me.

I am grateful for feeling sweet and sweet energy is grateful for me.

I seek the energy of feeling sweet and sweet energy is also seeking me, so that it can fill me, lay and flow through me.

Do these exercises for the rest of the positive words pleasant, happy, friendly, gentle, pleasant, mild, grateful, mellow, thankful, appreciative and you will transform your bitterness.

Anger is just a lack of momentary awareness for certain positive words.

Anger is a lack of awareness of the following positive words:

  • Like, attraction, pleasure, enjoyment
  • Peace, harmony, inner contentment, serenity, tranquility, security, calmness.
  • Approval, favorable regard, blessing, support, admiration, encouragement, respect
  • Acceptance, favorable reception, recognition, self-acceptance, acknowledgement, appreciation, awareness
  • Patience, tolerance, good nature, cool, composure
  • Goodwill, kindness, friendliness, benevolence, cheerful acquiescence, willingness, positivity, grace
  • Forgiveness, kindness, loving kindness
  • Gratification, satisfaction, spirit, humoring, pleasing, delight, joy, thrill, gratitude
  • Amiability, a cheerful and agreeable mood, good humor, light, charm, sociability

Enraged is a lack of awareness of the following positive words:

  • Please, enjoyment, pleasure, satisfaction, gratitude, delight, like, care, humor, content, choose, prefer, wish, will
  • Calm
  • Ease, relieve, calm, comfort, relief
  • Peace, quiet, calm, satisfy, gentle, alleviate, pacify

When you feel the emotion of anger you become, for some moments, unaware of the above positive words and in particular of the positive words BLESSING and GRATITUDE.

Bring your mind back to these positive words. Focus on the words “blessing” and “gratitude” for some seconds. This practice will make a dramatic change in your emotions and swift you to higher and more pleasant feelings. Try it and you will see. After practicing it for couples of times it will be easier to do it.

Transform anger with positive words and develop a skill that will be a shortcut to peacefulness.

More articles to read that will help you transform anger:

15 words you should think daily to be happy

Top 20 positive feelings and emotions

How to transform anger with positive words