I tried sedation for my dental appointment last week and honestly, it was such a relief. Felt like I blinked and it was over. Anyone else find sedation makes dentist visits way less terrifying?
"Felt like I blinked and it was over."
Haha, that's exactly how I felt the first time I tried sedation. Honestly, I used to dread dentist visits so much I'd procrastinate until things got...well, let's just say not pretty. Sedation was a game changer for me too, but lately I've been trying noise-cancelling headphones and podcasts instead. Surprisingly effective distraction, and cheaper too. Anyone else tried alternative methods that worked? Curious if I'm alone on this one.
Haha, podcasts are a lifesaver. My kid used to freak out big-time at the dentist, and sedation wasn't really an option for us (insurance stuff, yay). We ended up trying audiobooks—Harry Potter specifically—and it worked wonders. Honestly, the dentist could've pulled out a chainsaw and my son wouldn't have noticed as long as Hogwarts was involved.
Also, weirdly enough, giving him something small to hold onto helped a ton. We brought a stress ball once, then upgraded to one of those squishy toys that look like food...he squeezed the life out of a tiny donut last visit. Whatever works, right?
That's interesting about the audiobook thing...never thought of trying something like that. I'm actually going to the dentist next week for the first time in years (yeah, I know, procrastination at its finest), and I'm kind of freaking out about it. Not sure if Harry Potter would distract me enough, but maybe a podcast could work? What kind of podcasts do you think would be distracting enough for an adult who's way too aware of every little noise and sensation at the dentist? Also, the squishy toy idea sounds oddly comforting—do you think they'd judge me if I brought one in as an adult? I mean, squeezing a tiny donut does sound better than gripping the armrest until my knuckles turn white...
"Also, the squishy toy idea sounds oddly comforting—do you think they'd judge me if I brought one in as an adult?"
Honestly, I doubt they'd care at all. Dentists see way stranger stuff than adults squeezing tiny donuts, trust me. But about the podcast thing—personally, I find narrative podcasts or true crime way too engaging. Weirdly enough, something mellow and conversational works better for me. Like a chill interview or even a comedy podcast that's easy to zone in and out of. Might be worth trying if Harry Potter doesn't cut it...
