Nobody likes a painful dentist appointment. In fact, fear of pain is a major contributor to people skipping the dentist altogether – up to 15 percent of Americans and an incredible 36 percent of British respondents avoid regular dental visits because of pain. Unfortunately, dodging dental visits because of pain almost guarantees more dental discomfort in the future, as well as poorer health for your smile in the years to come. So, is there anything you can do to achieve a pain-free dental experience? Yes! Here are four steps you can take towards a pain-free visit to the dentist for the whole family.

1. Take Advantage of Introductions and Consultations at your Austin Dentist

One of the biggest parts of achieving a pain-free dental experience is choosing the right dentist in the first place. Sometimes, it’s a good idea to check out a few places before you decide. Consider this: we like to interview pet sitters and child care professionals before we settle, so why should a dentist be any different?

There are lots of dentists in Austin, TX, so it’s important that you choose wisely! Think of your first dental consultation as an “interview,” where you get to decide if the atmosphere, staff, and facilities live up to your expectations and help you feel relaxed and comfortable. This is also a great time to ask questions about pain management, state-of-the-art painless injection techniques, and more.

2. Acknowledge Anxieties or Prior Traumas – Help is Available!

For many of us, visiting the dentist can be a scary experience. Often times (but not always), this can be the result of a bad experience. Dental anxiety is very common; some research suggests that almost 60 percent of people experience some degree of dental anxiety.

Dental anxiety can occur for anyone at any age – even kids.

Because so many of us experience this, there are fortunately lots of resources available to help. Your dentist should be able to prescribe a variety of solutions, including anti-anxiety medications taken the night or morning before an appointment or even referrals to therapeutic professionals who can help address long-term dental anxieties.

 3. Seek Out the Newest Technologies

As with all medical specialties, new technologies are always improving our ability to treat patients and make procedures more comfortable and effective. Whether you’re looking for a general dentist, a family dentist, or a cosmetic dentist in Austin, choosing practices with state-of-the-art tools and facilities provides the highest likelihood of comfortable procedures, no matter why you’re in the dentist’s chair.

4. Find a Trusted and Empathetic Dentist

From your very first visit to your Austin dentist, you should feel completely comfortable with your care team. A great way to find an expert and caring dental practice are to choose a group with experience and who is trusted by the community. This kind of practice should come with high reviews and recommendations from community members, and you should feel that you’re in good hands from your initial consultation.

Visiting the dentist regularly is important for your dental health as well as your overall systemic health. If the pain is holding you back from seeing your dentist, it’s time to change all that. At South Austin Dental Studio, we’re proud to bring over 30 years’ experience to our community that trusts us to provide friendly, exceptional dental services. We’ll work with you to ensure your concerns are addressed and create the most comfortable visit possible so you can take control of your dental health. Contact us to schedule an introductory consultation today!