Don’t Let Stress Scare You Away From the Dentist
No one likes going to the dentist — after all, the thought of someone else snooping around in your mouth isn’t pleasant. It’s pretty common to feel stressed at the dentist’s office, but for some people, that stress can escalate to a phobia. Dental anxiety can cause a host of dental problems. Many people who struggle with this anxiety will only visit the dentist when they absolutely need to. But rushing to the dentist due to an emergency only makes the patient’s anxiety worse. Emergency experiences are never pleasant and can add more stress to a trying situation. If someone is already nervous about going to the dentist, making an appointment for something far worse than a simple cleaning isn’t the solution. Their opinion of dentists is only going to worsen in situations like this, creating an unpleasant case for the patient and dentist. Managing your dental anxiety isn’t easy, but it can be done, and you don’t have to rely on sedatives to make it through an appointment, either. An easy way to minimize anxiety is to show up to your appointment on time — never early. Although this strategy might
seem too simple to work, it minimizes the time you spend in the waiting room. The longer a patient sits, the more time they have to mull over any previous bad experiences, imagine things that could go wrong, or anticipate the expected discomfort. Communicate your anxiety to your dentist. Getting to know your dentist and their process can lower stress levels and uncertainty, and your dentist may have suggestions on how to make you comfortable once they know how nervous you are. Talking through the procedure beforehand and afterward will help you understand what to expect and what’s already happened. Dental anxiety can make the dentist’s office seem like the worst place in the world. At Briarfield Dental, we want you to have the best experience possible. That’s one of the reasons why we created the Briarfield Dental Comfort Menu. From TVs above your dental chair to hot face towels, neck pillows, and even lip balm, we’ve got you covered! We do what we can to help you feel relaxed and comfortable during your visit. The next time you’re in the office, be sure to ask about the Comfort Menu!
Laugh Corner
Dr. Stuckey’s Playlist
Something for the Summer
Now that we’re finally getting to enjoy the sun and warm weather again, I wanted to pick a playlist that captures the uplifting feeling of summer fun. O.A.R. (Of A Revolution) was the best choice! They were very popular in Columbus at Ohio State University and played venues for years while they were getting their start. This is a rock band fromMaryland who is known for their outdoor summer concert tours. I’ve seen them twice in concert, at BGSU and again at DTE Music Theater. Once, our son Kevin gave us tickets for Mother’s Day, so we were able to see O.A.R. with him and his girlfriend, Kaity. On that occasion, it rained during part of the concert, but the show went on, and we had a great time. We had on plastic ponchos and blankets, and the band played such a great show that a little rain couldn’t ruin the fun.
Marc Roberge, Chris Culos, Richard On, and Benj Gershman, the original members of O.A.R., went to high school together in Rockville, Maryland. They formed the band in 1996 and released their first album, “The Wanderer,” a year later. This album is pretty good, but the band really came together in 2000 when saxophonist Jerry DePizzo joined the lineup. After DePizzo came along, O.A.R. released my favorite album from them, “Risen,” which features my favorite of their songs, “Someone in the Road,” “Hey Girl,” and “She Gone.” I really enjoy their music. They have a smooth, optimistic sound that makes O.A.R. the perfect soundtrack for a bright summer’s day when you’re driving down the road toward some exciting destination.
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