Strategies to Encourage Someone to See the Dentist

If someone you know well has bad oral health, it might impact your relationship or their overall health. However, it can be challenging to broach such a sensitive topic. Millions of people have tremendous anxiety just thinking about going to the dentist, often due to either a previous negative experience or a lack of knowledge of what to expect. You may have a friend or family member that fits this description and are looking for ways to encourage them. There are plenty of strategies for convincing someone to see the dentist.

Use Caution When Communicating Your Thoughts

Give your loved one permission to discuss how they feel about dental visits. It would be useful to ask open-ended questions requiring them to elaborate rather than just answering yes or no. This prompts people to speak openly about their feelings, allowing you to comprehend their perspective better. If you have had good experiences at the dentist or if going has helped you feel better about your teeth and smile, you can share your stories as examples of how seeing a dentist is nothing to be worried about.

Are You the Most Suitable Person to Initiate the Conversation?

The fundamental issue is how you can tell if you are the right person to bring it up. First, determine your level of closeness to this person. To what extent have you talked about health issues before? To what extent have you sought guidance from them? Do you find yourself discussing similar problems with them?
Next, inquire whether they are conversing with anyone else, because group attacks should be avoided whenever possible. Try asking around to discover if any of your close friends or family members have been dealing with this problem. Check with them to see if they think you are most suitable for bringing up the subject.

Initiate From a Place of Love

Always start from a place of love and compassion while having these discussions. Reassure them of your concern for their well-being by expressing your feelings of care and worry. Ensure they understand you want to spend as much time with them as possible, but poor oral health can shorten a person’s lifespan. Sometimes a person’s dental health will suffer because of a problem elsewhere in their body. You should never bring up a sensitive topic like this in an angry or accusatory tone.

Inform Them About Sedation Dentistry and Financial Aid Schemes

Sedation dentistry allows patients to overcome their phobia of the dentist. If cost is the issue, financing options exist to make dental care accessible to people of all financial backgrounds. Please try to assist them in any way you can, so they can overcome their difficulties. For further assistance, you can contact Engineered Smiles. We offer sedation dentistry and can help you convince someone to see us about their oral health.