My orthodontist was the complete opposite—she had this dry, witty humor that totally caught me off guard. At first I wasn't sure if she was joking or serious...but honestly, it helped ease my anxiety a ton during appointments. Guess it's just luck of the draw sometimes.
That's pretty cool, humor can really make a difference in stressful situations. I've noticed some dentists use music or even TV shows to distract patients during procedures. Did your orthodontist have any other tricks or was it mostly just her personality that helped ease your nerves? Curious because I'm always interested in how different docs handle patient anxiety.
"I've noticed some dentists use music or even TV shows to distract patients during procedures."
Yeah, I've seen that too, but honestly, sometimes those distractions just don't cut it for me. My dentist tried playing sitcoms once, and I found myself more annoyed than relaxed—laugh tracks during a root canal aren't exactly soothing, lol. Personally, I think it's less about distractions and more about the dentist's ability to communicate clearly what's happening. Knowing exactly what's going on step-by-step helps me way more than any TV show or playlist ever could... but maybe that's just me?
Totally get where you're coming from. Everyone's comfort zone is different, and it's great you've figured out what works best for you. I've personally found that a dentist who calmly explains each step can really ease anxiety—especially during more involved procedures like bone grafts or implants. But hey, some folks swear by distractions... my sister actually fell asleep once during a filling because of the calming playlist her dentist had on. Whatever helps you feel most at ease is what's important.
"my sister actually fell asleep once during a filling because of the calming playlist her dentist had on."
Haha, that's amazing... wish I could doze off like that at the dentist! I'm going in soon for my first bone graft procedure and honestly, feeling pretty anxious about it. But you're right, having someone calmly talk me through each step really helps. My current dentist did exactly that during my consultation—kept things simple and reassuring, and it made a huge difference for me. I've tried the distraction thing too (podcasts mostly), but I end up just zoning out and then suddenly remembering I'm at the dentist again. Glad you found what works best for you though, gives me hope I'll get there too eventually. Fingers crossed!
