Last Updated on: 22nd March 2024, 09:06 am

Approximately 50% of the population feels anxiety and stress before or during a visit to the dentist. The main reason is the fear of having an unpleasant or traumatic experience. This is because of the well-known but erroneous myth that all dental treatments are painful or bad dental experiences in the past.

Fear and dental anxiety can affect the quality of life of the patient, who may delay or postpone necessary dental treatments or only goes to the office when there are symptoms or pain, which worsens the situation.
To reduce anxiety during a dental consultation, various methods can be used that include, first of all, good communication between the dentist-patient, the use of anxiolytics and sedatives, or alternative therapies that help minimize fear and achieve the desired level of relaxation.

Why is relaxation important for patients?

Relaxation techniques increase the level of confidence and give the patient more control over their anxiety. They are very effective methods in cooperative patients and in those afraid of dental treatments since with continuous practice, they can pass more quickly to a state of relaxation, being beneficial both for the patient and the professional in charge since cooperation facilitates and improves the performance of dental procedures.

Main ways to relax a patient:  

1. Music therapy:

Music therapy is the use of music, sound, rhythm, and melody for therapeutic purposes, ideal for the restoration and maintenance of physical and mental health.
In the dental field, music therapy causes changes in the patient’s behavior that facilitate the treatment that should be received thanks to its anxiolytic effects and which results in the patient’s cooperation.

2. Aromatherapy:

Aromatherapy is a relaxation method in which essential oils or aromatic liquids from plants, herbs, and flowers are rubbed on the skin, inhaled, or ingested to harmonize and promote the health of the body, mind, and spirit. The use of this technique in dentistry is very effective, mainly to reduce anxiety, stress, and fear and to induce relaxation since it provides a sense of well-being in the patient.

The most common ways to use essential oils in the dental office are through diffusers, sprays, and candles.

3. Guided imagery

This technique consists of a mind-body intervention that uses the patient’s own imagination to mentally recreate desired situations. It is considered a relaxation technique that focuses on the interaction between mind, body, and behavior. The patient is guided to concentrate on pleasant images and thus replace negative feelings or those that trigger anxiety.

4. Progressive muscle relaxation

This very simple relaxation technique consists of learning to tense and relax the different muscles of the body. It is based on the fact that stress generates a series of thoughts and behaviors that cause muscle tension in the patient, which increases the perception of anxiety. Progressive relaxation reduces this muscle tension and with it the corresponding feeling of anxiety.

5. Deep breathing exercises

It is one of the easiest and simplest breathing techniques whose function is to provide tranquility and relaxation when there is a certain level of stress or anxiety. This is because breathing with the diaphragm levels the heart rate and increases the level of endorphins responsible for providing well-being and happiness. It consists of taking in air through the nose for about 4 seconds, keeping it in the lungs, and letting the air out calmly for another 4 seconds, then repeating as many times as necessary.

6. Mindfulness meditation

This type of meditation consists of concentrating on being fully aware of what is being experienced and feeling at the moment, accepting and welcoming the experiences of our lives with an awake mind and without judgment. The practice involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other techniques to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.

Frequently Asked Questions