You have opened the appointment page more than once. Each time, the same question stops you: what if the visit moves faster than you can handle?
You can tell the office about that concern before you arrive. Explain what makes dental visits difficult, ask what the first appointment will involve, and discuss how you can signal when you need a pause. You do not need to solve the anxiety before making contact.
The first useful step is to give the team enough information to help plan the conversation.
Name the part that worries you
“I am nervous” is enough to begin. A little more detail can help the team understand what you need.
Perhaps a past visit was painful. You may dislike not knowing what is happening, feel uncomfortable lying back, or worry about the cost of treatment. Those concerns can lead to different questions.
For example, you could say: “I have been putting this off because I am afraid I will agree to something before I understand it. Can you explain how the first visit works?”
That is a conversation starter, not a promise about a particular appointment. Ask the office what it can arrange.
Ask what is planned before the day arrives
Find out whether the appointment is for an examination, a specific concern, a cleaning, or another purpose. Ask what records or medical information to bring and whether there are instructions to follow beforehand.
If you have pain or another urgent concern, describe it when you call. Let the team determine the appropriate timing and visit type. Do not wait for a perfect moment to explain that something is wrong.
You can also ask how findings, costs, and treatment choices will be discussed. Knowing where that conversation fits can reduce the feeling that everything must be decided at once.
Agree on communication in the chair
The ADA’s guidance on dental anxiety recommends speaking up, asking questions, and agreeing on a signal for a break. Discuss the signal with the dentist before the examination or procedure begins.
Tell the team whether explanations help you or whether too much detail makes it harder to stay comfortable. If you feel pain or need clarification, say so. Your feedback gives the clinician information they cannot get from an examination alone.
A note on your phone can help you remember these preferences when the appointment starts.
Discuss comfort options with your medical history in view
There is no single approach that fits every patient. If you want to discuss medication or sedation, ask which options may be appropriate for the planned care and your health history.
Bring an accurate list of medicines and supplements, and tell the dentist about relevant conditions and past reactions. The ADA explains that the choice of anesthesia or sedation depends on the procedure and individual factors.
Follow the office’s specific instructions. Do not take an extra sedative or use someone else’s medication to prepare yourself.
Bring three things you want the team to know
Before the visit, write:
- The part of dental care that feels hardest.
- What has helped, or made things harder, in the past.
- The question you most want answered before deciding on treatment.
You do not need a polished explanation. A short, honest note can start a more useful discussion than trying to hide the concern.
DeWitt Dental Associates’ new-patient information provides a starting point for a visit to its Cherry Creek office. Dr. Michael DeWitt and Dr. Lynne Midgley are the doctors listed on the practice’s current website.
Contact DeWitt Dental Associates and tell the team you are nervous about the first visit. Ask what can be planned before you arrive.