We’ve talked at length before about addressing and accepting dental anxiety. When you’re going to visit your local oral surgeon, it’s completely normal to feel anxious about the experience—after all, most people don’t know the intricacies of oral surgery. At its core, it’s a fear of the unknown. Plus, there’s also the needles, the whirring tools, the close proximity of the masked surgeon, and all of that. We get it, but it’s still a good idea to talk to a trusted oral healthcare provider about your fear of oral surgery.
If the dental surgeon who’s about to perform a full wisdom teeth removal on you doesn’t know that you’re anxious about the procedure, they’re not going to be able to do anything to help. But if they do know what in particular you’re anxious about, any oral surgeon who’s worth going to will be able to take measures to help reduce your anxiety. Doesn’t that sound nice?
Acknowledging Your Dental Anxiety
When anxiety strikes, it can feel like your world is closing in on itself, and it can send you spiraling in no time. However, plenty of compassionate dental surgeons out there want you to have the best possible experience with them—after all, oral surgeries, whether it’s having all four wisdom teeth extracted, getting replacements for missing teeth, or something else, are nerve-wracking enough as it is without added dental anxiety.
Besides, every experienced maxillofacial surgeon has encountered patients with anxiety, and chances are they’re very willing to take the time to talk with you about what’s triggering your anxiety. However, while talented doctors who perform oral surgery are a lot of things, mind reading isn’t part of the skillset. If you’re feeling nervous about an upcoming surgery or procedure, initiate a conversation with your provider. This can be done at a consultation, or if you’re coming up on a surgery, call their office and make an appointment to speak with your surgeon. It can be hard, but making the first move like this lets your oral surgery team know that you need a little reassurance.
Then, all it takes to open the conversation is a simple phrase like “I’m feeling anxious about my upcoming dental implant surgery,” or “I have an intense fear of surgery or needles. What are some sedatives used in oral surgery that might benefit me?” Once you get the ball rolling by opening up, your dental surgeon can then take over.
Discussing Your Oral Surgery Fears
Whether you’re feeling nervous about something routine like an upcoming wisdom teeth removal or a major procedure like having your mouth fully reconstructed by an oral surgeon, make a list of questions and concerns before you go in to meet with your dental surgeon. You might have questions about the procedure itself, pain management options, what recovery might look like, and plenty more—all are fair game, and are likely ones that your surgeon has received before and will continue to receive after.
Doing research on your upcoming surgery beforehand—and taking the time to have a conversation with your surgeon—can actually reduce anxiety. Knowledge is power, and sometimes people are just genuinely afraid of what they don’t know. Of course, make sure to check your sources, and if you ever have any doubts, talking to our team about your exact case is a far better option than Googling a list of symptoms.
What to Expect from Your Oral Surgeon
If you suffer from anxiety, whether it’s generalized or something more specific, it can sometimes feel like you’re the odd one out and people aren’t going to understand where you’re coming from or why you’re even nervous in the first place. On the contrary, that’s simply the anxiety talking, and plenty of others out there share your fears.
We’re here for you, and we fully understand why someone would be nervous before coming in for a major oral procedure. We’re not going to downplay it at all—oral surgery can be a big thing; you might need to be put under, there’s the procedure itself, and of course, the recovery time afterward. In fact, we’d be more surprised if a patient wasn’t anxious at all before coming in for something like bone grafting of the jaw and mouth or wisdom teeth extraction surgery.
Most dentists are compassionate and understanding medical professionals. Think about it—they see patients who are struggling with their mouth and teeth day in and day out. If you’ve ever had tooth pain before, you know how awful it can feel, and so do they. They understand anxiety, and they’ll likely be able to assuage some of those negative feelings and offer up plenty of solutions to help you put your mind at ease.
Holistic Ways to Reduce Anxiety Before Your Oral Surgery
An oral surgeon with plenty of experience with anxious patients might suggest different things to try, like relaxation techniques prior to the surgery. This could be meditating, doing deep breathing exercises to calm a racing nervous system, or something as easy as listening to calming music beforehand.
If they sense that you’re particularly on edge about the upcoming surgery, they might even suggest some form of sedation dentistry if it’s more of a minor procedure you’re going in for. They’ll also try to make the operating environment as relaxing as possible, with touches like music and ambiance to help you relax even before getting your sedatives.
Any oral surgeon who knows what they’re doing is going to want to help you out and ensure that you get the best experience possible. By being open and communicating your fears, you and your dentist can work together to create a comfortable environment and have a successful oral surgery experience.
