Dental anxiety treatment aims to make dental visits manageable when fear has kept you away, starting with how the visit is run and adding medication only if needed. Redondo Beach Dental Group is in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Torrance.
If the thought of a dental chair makes your heart race, you are far from alone. A review in the journal Medical Principles and Practice estimates that about 36% of people have dental anxiety and a further 12% have extreme dental fear. Call (310) 542-6988 and tell us you are nervous when you book, so the first visit can be planned around it.
Dental Anxiety, Dental Fear and Dental Phobia
Dental anxiety is worry about what might happen at the dentist. It can show up days before an appointment as poor sleep, a racing pulse or the urge to cancel. Dental fear is a reaction to something specific, such as needles, the sound of the drill or gagging. Dental phobia, sometimes called dentophobia, is a fear strong enough that you avoid care even when a tooth hurts.
The reasons vary. A painful visit in the past is a common story. Others include feeling out of control while lying back with your mouth open, stories from friends or family, and embarrassment about how your teeth look after a long gap. Knowing which of these applies to you helps your dentist choose what to change.
How We Help Without Medication
Many anxious patients do not need sedation to get through a visit. What usually helps is predictability: knowing what will happen, how long it will last and how to stop it. These are the approaches you can ask for at Redondo Beach Dental Group.
Before you book
Tell the front desk what worries you when you call, whether that is needles, the drill, gagging or a bad past experience. You can ask for a first visit that is only a conversation and a look, with no treatment that day. Many people find that meeting the dentist and seeing the room takes much of the dread out of the next appointment.
At your first visit
Your dentist explains what they see and what each option involves before anything starts, so nothing comes as a surprise. If you have not been to a dentist in years, say so. Patients returning after a long gap are a routine part of general and family dentistry, and the conversation is about what to do next, not about how you got here. A routine cleaning and exam is often a good first step, since it is a short, familiar visit that lets you build trust before larger work.
In the chair
- Agree on a stop signal, such as raising your left hand, and ask the dentist to pause whenever you use it
- Ask to be told before each step, including when you will feel water, pressure or a vibration
- Ask for numbing gel on the gum before an injection, which many people find takes the edge off the pinch
- Bring headphones and listen to music or a podcast, if your dentist agrees it will not get in the way
- Ask for short breaks during longer work so you can close your mouth and reset
- Try slow breathing: in through your nose for four counts, out through your mouth for six
If the sound and vibration of the drill is your main trigger, ask whether air abrasion suits your tooth. For some small cavities it removes decay with a fine stream of particles instead of a drill, often without a shot. Patients who arrive early can also sit in the office’s massage chair while they wait.
Start small and build up
Fear often shrinks with each visit that goes the way you were told it would. If you need several treatments, ask whether the plan can start with the simplest one. Finishing a cleaning or a small filling first gives you evidence that you can do this before a longer appointment, such as root canal therapy.
When Sedation Makes Sense
Some people still cannot relax enough with these approaches alone, and that is not a failure. Others have a strong gag reflex, need a long appointment or want to finish several treatments in one sitting. In those cases medication can help. Redondo Beach Dental Group offers laughing gas, oral sedation and IV sedation, and sedation dentistry covers what each level feels like, who needs a driver and how to prepare. Please do not take leftover or borrowed medication to calm your nerves before a visit. Any medication should be planned with your dentist and your health history.
When to Talk to a Psychologist as Well
For anxiety, a calm, well-explained visit is often enough. For a true phobia, the same review recommends referral to psychological care, from a psychologist or therapist, alongside dental treatment. If fear stops you from booking at all, or a single visit leaves you shaken for days, that is worth raising with your doctor. You can still come in for a talk-first visit while you work on it.
Who You Will See
Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads care at Redondo Beach Dental Group. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California and graduated with honors. His work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations.
Cost and Insurance
The cost of treatment depends on what your mouth needs, and sedation, if you choose it, is billed on top. Ask for an estimate before treatment so you know the number in advance.
We accept PPO plans, and you can ask us how your plan applies to the treatment you need. For costs your plan does not cover, there are payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, and an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dental anxiety?
Dental anxiety is a feeling of worry or dread about going to the dentist. It ranges from mild nerves before a cleaning to fear strong enough to cancel appointments. It is common, and a dentist who knows about it can change how the visit is run.
What is dentophobia?
Dentophobia is an intense, lasting fear of dentists or dental treatment that leads a person to avoid care, sometimes even when they are in pain. It goes further than ordinary nerves. Some people with dentophobia benefit from help from a psychologist alongside a patient, step-by-step approach at the dentist.
How do dentists deal with anxious patients?
Dentists help anxious patients mainly by making the visit predictable. That means explaining each step before it happens, agreeing on a signal to stop, allowing breaks and starting with simple treatment. When that is not enough, sedation with laughing gas, a pill or an IV can be added.
How do I go to the dentist with severe anxiety?
To go to the dentist with severe anxiety, start by telling the office about your fear when you book, and ask for a first visit that is only a conversation and an exam. Agree on a stop signal, bring someone to drive you if you are considering sedation, and plan the simplest treatment first.
What can I take to calm my nerves before a dentist?
The safest way to calm your nerves before a dentist visit is to plan it with the dentist rather than taking something on your own. Slow breathing, avoiding caffeine that morning and listening to music can help. If you need medication, your dentist can discuss prescribed sedation options and how to take them safely.
What can I do if I’m too scared to go to the dentist?
If you are too scared to go to the dentist, start with a phone call instead of an appointment. Ask what a first visit involves and whether it can be talk only. If the fear is strong enough that you cannot book at all, a psychologist can help you work on it at the same time.
Do I need sedation if I am anxious about the dentist?
Many anxious patients get through treatment without sedation once they know what to expect and how to pause. Sedation is an option for people whose fear stays high, who gag easily, or who need long or multiple procedures. Your dentist can help you decide after reviewing your health history.
Book a Visit in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online, and mention that you are nervous so the first visit can be planned around it.