A guest post

A whole 1/4” of tooth dropped onto my plate. “You need a crown AND a filling,” my trusted dentist told me the next day. “Sorry, no openings for two weeks but we’ll apply a sealer to protect it.” I dreaded the upcoming 90 minutes in the dental chair, anticipating pain, bright lights, loud drilling, and the struggle to keep my tiny mouth pried open that long!

If you are a fellow highly sensitive person, you “get” the meaning of sensory overload and oh, how time in that chair can blast the senses! I remembered the self-care tools I’d gained in the Blooming Brilliantly and Brain Training classes for HSPs! So.. days in advance, I set out to build this dental self-care “kit” for myself to protect all my senses: 

      To calm my nerves: I researched “homeopathics for dental visits” and decided upon *Gelsemium for anxiety and *Arnica Montana for pain.  I took both homeopathics before I arrived and more arnica after the visit to help prevent any pain. *

To take to the appointment

•   My nightguard to be refitted (I clench and grind in my sleep and this saves me disintegrating ALL of my teeth!)

• My calming On Wings of a Dove harp music queued up on my iPhone with earbuds serving as sound barriers.

List of requests for dental assistant

•   Dark glasses to block the bright lights

•   Mouth wedge to keep my mouth propped open 

•   Anesthetic without epinephrine **

•   Frequent suction for excess salivation

•   Hand signal discussion to signal “more suction!’”  

•   Mouth dam protocol to protect the mouth and nose    

All five of my well-developed senses were honored and ready! After conveying all my requests, I leaned back in the chair and signaled ‘Thumbs-up” to let the repair begin! For the first time ever, I felt myself smile during a dental procedure.

Tips for your next dental visit:

1. Schedule an afternoon appointment so you can still chew breakfast and lunch then glide into the evening with soft food, slippers, and your favorite movie.

2. Bring whatever you need to support you.

3. Ask for whatever makes you comfortable.

4. Trust the dental team you have selected to skillfully care for you.

Thanks to HSP psychotherapist Julie Bjelland, for guiding us HSPs to develop tools to manage and thrive in this world and for the many exceptional HSPs in the Sensitive Empowerment Community who buoy and inspire one another in the process!

All the above are for my personal comfort. I am not a homeopath, dental or medical professional and do not make recommendations for your unique needs. 

*I mention the two homeopathics which I had used previously under the direction of a homeopath. Because each person is unique and HSPs can be particularly sensitive, it is advisable to seek the guidance of a homeopath or health practitioner trained in the use of homeopathic remedies.

**My choice of lidocaine without epinephrine is a personal one. There are some instances where epinephrine is warranted. Speak with your dentist about this choice. I make no recommendations here.

Other posts by Christine

Welcome Home, Highly Sensitives! By Christine Magnussen

Harp for Joy and Stress Relief by Christine Grace Magnussen

HSP Christine Magnussen is a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner. When she is not in the dentist chair, she’s playing her harp or teaching Harp for Stress Relief online. You can download her music for your next dental visit, massage treatment or chillaxing moments at Peacecalm.com

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Julie Bjelland is a Psychotherapist, host of The HSP Podcast, and Founder of the Sensitive Empowerment Community, whose mission is to create a paradigm shift where sensitivity is embraced, valued, and honored. Register for free Masterclasses, get a free guide to calm your brain, a letter to give your medical and mental health practitioners about high sensitivity and take the Sensitivity Quiz at JulieBjelland.com ❤️🌈❤️ (she/her)