One thing I wish someone told me before my root canal/crown combo: bring your own headphones and queue up a long playlist or podcast.

I totally get the struggle with true crime - one jump scare and suddenly you’re both startled and drooling. I’ve actually found that long, story-driven audiobooks (nothing too thrilling) work for me. The narration is steady and it’s easy to tune in and out if the drilling gets loud. Comedy’s risky for sure... tried it once, ended up snorting mid-filling.

Comedy’s risky for sure... tried it once, ended up snorting mid-filling.

That line had me cracking up - been there, regretted that. I thought a standup comedy playlist would keep my mind off the bill (and the drill), but nope. Nearly choked on my own spit and got the stink eye from my dentist. Not worth the risk unless you want to be the entertainment.

I lean toward those old BBC radio mysteries. Not scary, just enough plot to distract me from tallying up how much this is all gonna cost. Plus, with headphones, you don’t hear every single whir and crunch. One time I forgot them and had to listen to smooth jazz piped in overhead... which somehow made the drilling sound even worse? Maybe it’s just me.

If you’re looking to save a few bucks, I just use free library apps for audiobooks or podcasts. No need to subscribe to anything fancy when you’re already paying through the nose (literally) for dental work.

I get where you’re coming from on the comedy front - tried to distract myself with a podcast that was way too funny during a cleaning, and the hygienist actually paused to check if I was okay. Not my finest hour. I’m with you that anything too hilarious is risky when you’ve got dental tools in your mouth.

I do have to mildly disagree about the smooth jazz, though. For me, it’s actually the only thing that keeps me calm in the chair. Maybe it’s because I can tune it out more easily than speech, so I don’t end up focusing on every word or plot twist. But yeah, if you’re not into it, those overhead tracks can feel like a weird soundtrack to your own personal horror movie.

You’re totally right about the library apps - they’re a game changer if you don’t want to pay for Audible or Spotify. I’ve loaded up whole seasons of mystery podcasts before appointments, and as long as I remember my headphones (which is a big IF), it makes a huge difference. Honestly, the last time I forgot them, I spent half the appointment mentally calculating how much my insurance was going to cover and how much I’d be eating ramen for dinner that month.

One thing I wish more people talked about is how much having control over what you’re listening to helps with anxiety - not just distraction, but actually feeling like you have some say in what’s happening during something that’s otherwise totally out of your hands. It’s wild how much calmer I am when I’ve got my own playlist going.

I do kind of wonder, though - do any dentists actually mind if you’re wearing headphones? Mine says it’s fine as long as I keep one ear free so I can hear instructions, but I’ve heard from friends their dentists get weird about it. Maybe it depends on the office? Either way, I’d risk an awkward conversation for the sake of drowning out those drill sounds any day.

One thing I wish more people talked about is how much having control over what you’re listening to helps with anxiety - not just distraction, but actually feeling like you have some say in what’s happening during something that’s otherwise totally out of your hands.

This hits home for me. I had a root canal/crown combo last winter and honestly, the feeling of being stuck in that chair while people poke around your mouth is just... not great. Having my own headphones made a huge difference, and I totally get what you mean about it being more than just a distraction. It’s like, even if you can’t control what’s happening with your teeth, you can at least choose your own “soundtrack.” That little bit of agency really does help.

I relate to the comedy podcast thing too - tried listening to one during a filling and almost snorted mid-procedure. Not my brightest idea. I switched to an audiobook after that, which was way safer (and less embarrassing). For me, it’s more about steady narration or mellow music. Smooth jazz isn’t my thing either, but I know people who swear by it. I guess it’s one of those “whatever works for you” situations.

About dentists and headphones - my experience has been mixed. My current dentist is super chill about it as long as I keep the volume low and one earbud out. But I’ve had another who seemed kind of annoyed, like it was making her job harder? I think it really depends on the office vibe and maybe how communicative they are during procedures. Personally, I’d rather risk a slightly awkward conversation than listen to the drills and suction noises the whole time.

One thing I’d add: don’t be afraid to ask your dentist directly before your appointment. I used to feel weird about it, but most of them seem used to people wanting some kind of distraction these days. And if you forget your headphones (which has happened to me more than once), sometimes they’ll let you use your phone on speaker at low volume or even offer up their own playlist options.

Anyway, you’re definitely not alone in needing that sense of control. Dental work is rough enough without feeling like you’re just along for the ride.

Completely agree about the difference it makes to have even a little bit of control in that situation. I’ve had a couple of lengthy dental procedures and honestly, the worst part for me is just feeling powerless while all that’s happening. Having headphones - especially with something familiar queued up - helps me focus on something predictable. It’s not just about “drowning out” the noise, it’s about anchoring myself with something I chose.

I’ve noticed some dental offices are still kind of old-school about it, though. One hygienist acted like my earbuds were going to mess up her whole flow, which was awkward. But like you said, most seem used to patients wanting distractions now. I’d rather risk that than sit there hyper-aware of every weird sound or sensation.

You’re totally right: it’s worth asking ahead of time, even if you feel a bit awkward. And yeah, I’ve done the audiobook thing too - steady narration seems to keep my anxiety in check way better than music or comedy. Just knowing you’re not alone in this helps a lot.