"Once you're actually there, it's over before you know it."
This is exactly how it went for me too. I remember being incredibly anxious before my first extraction—I had read every horror story online (big mistake, by the way) and imagined the worst-case scenarios. But honestly, the anticipation was far worse than the actual procedure. I opted for sedation because I knew my anxiety would be through the roof, but even then, the dentist and assistants were so reassuring and professional that I felt surprisingly calm once I was in the chair.
One practical thing that helped me was bringing headphones and listening to music during the procedure. My dentist was totally fine with it, and having my favorite playlist on quietly in the background really took my mind off what was happening. If you haven't already asked your dentist about this option, it might be worth considering.
Also, completely agree about scheduling early appointments. I made the mistake of booking mine later in the afternoon once, thinking I'd have more time to mentally prepare... big mistake. All it did was give me extra hours to stress out unnecessarily. Early morning appointments definitely limit how long your mind has to wander.
In any case, it's completely normal to feel nervous about something like this—most people do, even if they don't admit it openly. Just remind yourself that dentists do these procedures every day; it's routine for them even if it's new for you. You've got this.
I totally get this. When I had mine done, I was a nervous wreck beforehand—couldn't sleep the night before, kept imagining all sorts of scenarios. But honestly, once I was in the chair, it was way less scary than I'd built it up to be. One thing that helped me was focusing on slow, deep breathing. Sounds simple, but it really calmed my nerves. And yeah, headphones are a lifesaver... wish I'd thought of that!
Great advice on deep breathing and headphones—patients tell me all the time how much music or podcasts help distract them. Another thing I've noticed makes a big difference is having a clear idea of what to expect. Often, anxiety comes from uncertainty, so asking your dentist beforehand about the procedure steps can ease your mind quite a bit. Most dentists are happy to walk you through it briefly if you ask. Also, sedation options like nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") can really help take the edge off if deep breathing alone isn't enough. Curious if anyone here has tried sedation for dental anxiety and how it went?
I tried nitrous oxide once for a filling because I was super nervous... honestly, it helped a lot. Didn't knock me out or anything, just made me feel floaty and less panicky. Still not my favorite place to be, but definitely took the edge off.
Did the nitrous oxide make you feel dizzy afterward or anything? I've got an extraction coming up too, and I'm debating whether to ask for it. I'm usually okay-ish at the dentist, but pulling a tooth just feels... different, you know? Glad it helped with your nerves though—anything that makes the dentist less awful is a win in my book, haha.
