If you ever get nervous just thinking about going to the dentist, you are not alone. An estimated 30 to 40 million people in the United States, avoid seeing the dentist because of anxiety and fear. Not seeing a dentist affects your dental health and overall medical health. It can lead to serious infections that may become life threatening. On the RNJ Morning Program, the High Tech Dentist, Dr. Gary Vander Vliet, joined Morning Mike to talk about strategies to ease anxiety and strengthen your smile.
Dr. Gary emphasized communicating openly with your dentist so that they know how to best help you. He also suggested distracting yourself, like wearing headphones, squeezing a stress ball, etc. Finally, he said that mindfulness techniques can go a long way toward easing stress. If you’d like to learn more, visit Dr. Gary Vander Vliet at thehightechdentist.com. Dr. Vander Vliet is at Advanced Dental Care of West Morris, Hastings commons, Bldg. 2B, 486 Schooley’s Mountain Rd., Hackettstown. Call 908-852-8858.