How To Help Someone Go To The Dentist

The biggest thing you do for your New Years resolution might not even revolve around you. That’s right, plenty of people put “finally going back to the dentist” on their list of resolutions, but many might need help making that desire a reality. Trust us. We understand! It can be scary to walk into the dentist’s office not knowing what diagnosis or treatment awaits after a period of missing checkups and regular cleanings. But not to worry, Grace & Leedy Family Dentistry has put together some great tips on how you can help a friend or family member go to the dentist. Better yet, you might just earn a little karma for your upcoming resolutions as well!

Step 1 - Listen

The first and arguably most important step when considering how to help someone go to the dentist is that of simply listening. Your friend or family member doesn’t need you to solve all their problems, namely dental fears, and it is not your job to do so. Instead try to practice active listening. Reflect, or repeat in different terms, what they say, and ask them if you are correct in your reflections. Try to go above and beyond simple reassurances and rather see if you can uncover the main reasons they have dental anxiety. Is it a fear of pain? Is it a fear that they’ll need substantial work and can’t afford it? This will be extremely helpful for them. Remember you’re not trying to do this for them. You’re simply providing support so they can better accomplish it on their own.

Step 2 - Find The Right Dentist

Once you’ve established the basis for their dental anxiety, it’s time to find the right dentist. Naturally this is a crucial part as you consider how to help someone go to the dentist. You may be able to recommend a dentist, but remember this doesn’t always work in some cases. They may live far away from the dentist, or they may want to make the choice on their own. Luckily we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on finding a quality dentist. Read How To Tell You’ve Found A Quality Lakewood, CO Dentist to learn more. Basically you’ll want to help them check reviews on sites like Yelp, Facebook and Google as well as read written reviews from other patients. As we mentioned, word of mouth recommendations can be great, but it should be a combination of those and factors like website quality, speedy contact times and 5 star reviews.

Step 3 - Consider A Consultation  

The idea of going to the dentist and immediately getting into the chair for a cleaning can elevate dental anxiety for some patients. If this is the case, then we recommend asking about a dental consultation. This is essentially a quick meet and greet where you talk with the dentist and ask any questions. You can also take a look at the facilities and ensure their appearance matches your expectations. If the dentist you're considering doesn't offer a consultation, then you're probably choosing the wrong dentist for your friend's needs. They can then leave this consultation and schedule a cleaning and check up with less uncertainty in the back of their mind. 

Step 4 - Be A Companion

Of course a big way you can help in the act of how to help someone go to the dentist is to attend their first appointment with them (and consultation if needed). This ensures a familiar face is present in the room with them at all times. Naturally scheduling this can be tough, but it is well worth taking a little time off work if you can help this person get over their dental anxiety and receive the care they need. You don't have to sit in the corner of the room quietly reading magazines either. This is where our next step comes into play.  

Step 5 - Communicate With The Dentist

All the way back at step one you were able to listen to your friend and help uncover what causes their dental anxiety. But in some cases they may not be able to articulate all of this to the dentist the first time they visit. After all, nerves set in and people are prone to forget in situations like that. But not to worry, you can help communicate for them with the dentist! Certainly let your friend or family member take point on the conversation with the dentist, but don't be afraid to add any details you think were missed. This is a huge way you can help someone go to the dentist after missing regular care for a period of time. For more tips check out How To Talk To Your Dentist.

Final Thoughts

Well there you have it! See it's not so hard to when you break down how to help someone go to the dentist into steps. If you're still considering which dentist to recommend, we suggest you give our family dentistry a closer look. We're staffed with friendly, skilled professionals that are well versed in handling dental anxiety in a kind, non-judgmental manner. Contact us today to see the difference. We offer both quick consultations and dental cleaning and checkup appointments depending on the preference of your friend or family member. What a great way to start out the New Year!