AIBU to wear headphones

[DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace]

At the hygienist?

I have a hygienist appointment tomorrow and I'm not generally great at the dentist. I get quite anxious about it. I've only ever had one hygienist appointment before I think, and I've never needed any fillings/root canals/teeth out etc so I've never really spent much time in the dentist chair in one go. I do go every 6 months for check ups but they're normally pretty quick.

Is it ok to wear headphones as a distraction? Or is that considered not ok? Do they need to talk to you much during a hygienist appointment? I'd only wear one so would still be able to hear, but I don't want to seem like I'm being rude.

It would be a wireless earbud so no wires in the way.

I think it would be very odd sorry.

I don’t think there’s any harm in asking when you get there and explaining that you think it will help calm you down, I bet it’s more common than you think. Good luck! I hate the dentist too

Ignore this, it's absolutely fine. I've always been a nervous dental patient and several over the years have recommended headphones with relaxing music or a distracting podcast or audio book.

One dentist I used to go to actually supplied the headphones and had a TV screen in the ceiling with a choice of things to watch.

Just speak to the hygienist at the start of your appointment, say that you're nervous and you think having one earbud in would help you to feel calm.

If you can still hear them talking to you then I doubt it'll be an issue and there's certainly no harm in asking. At the end of the day if you feel calmer it'll be easier for them too.

When you go in, tell them you'd prefer a silent appointment as you're nervous (no chit chat) as mentioned above, you'll be wearing earphones to aid you.

I wore earbuds for my root canal, they were happy as long as I could still hear instructions. I don't think it's silly!

I remember getting a filling as a child and the unbelievably cool dentist gave me a Walkman with a tape of Michael Jackson's Bad to listen to, to distract me. Best dentist ever. I still use earbuds and a podcast for all sorts of situational distractions, all professionals have been very kind about it. Best of luck with the appointment.

It's only a hygienist appointment, there will be no drilling or pain, the absolute worst they are going to do is scrape a little bit. Nothing to be anxious about and certainly not enough to require distraction.

Having said that, if you explain you would like to have a earbud in I'm sure they'd be fine with it.

The most unpleasant bit of hygienist appointments is the judgey lecture about flossing better! Everything else is a breeze!

They will love it that you are listening to something whilst having your clean, nothing to worry about.

I do this for anything more than a check-up. A dentist suggested it to me. I also usually have my eyes shut. If the dentist or hygienist wants to get my attention she touches my hand.

Never had a single issue with doing this. Occasionally the dentist may ask what I'm listening to, if they don't know me. But that's because I prefer to listen to a comedian rather than to music, and the dentist is puzzled that this nervous patient is obviously amused during the treatment.

I do this for every single dental appointment, it’s absolutely fine and not an issue whatsoever- I actually started doing it after it was suggested by a dentist as I’m a very nervous patient.

It would not be odd whatsoever :) I’ve been doing this for years.

I do it, it's fine