How can I politely ask the dental hygienist to just stop talking .

[hattie43]

I am due the hygienist on Wednesday and she is a lovely lady but she just doesn't stop talking / asking me things when I've got a mouth full of instruments / saliva . It's so hard to speak so we end up constantly interrupting the treatment whilst I struggle to answer her . It's not things about my teeth it's just general life stuff .
I don't want to appear rude but it's so off putting .

Maybe take headphones and say you would like to zone out to music or something. I haven’t done this at the dentist but I have done this at other medical procedures because I really don’t like being talked through the stages of the procedure as it makes me more tense about what’s going on.

Of course you can. The dentist will then put a note on your file to ask for no chat during treatment.

Ive had patients on the spectrum ask for the radio to be turned off as they find it overwhelming , people who don't want to be told what is going to happen , people who prefer to be addressed by surname or first name. It won't be a problem.