Feeling nervous about visiting the dentist is common. An unpleasant past experience, fear of pain or a feeling of loss of control can be behind it. What matters is sharing this with your dentist.
What you can do at the appointment
- Tell your dentist or the team about your concern at the first meeting.
- Ask for each step of the procedure to be explained beforehand.
- Agree on a signal (for example raising your hand) to ask for a pause during treatment.
- If possible choose a quieter time of day.
- You can ask to begin with short, simple steps; the first appointment can be just an introduction and examination.
Things that may help you relax
- Breathing slowly and deeply
- Listening to music with headphones (when appropriate)
- Taking a little time for a chat before the procedure
Pain control
You can talk with your dentist about local anaesthesia and, where needed, additional methods. Your dentist decides which is suitable for you, taking your health and the type of procedure into account.
For children
Calm and honest explanations before a procedure and avoiding frightening words help children. You can find more on our paediatric dentistry page.