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health advisory Hospital Dentists Yu 2007-11-11 18:17:04

What does the dentist mean when he says to relax your mouth? What if he tells you this a couple of times does that mean there is a problem? Is it you as the patient? How do you communicate with him/her during dental treatment? What does he mean when he says relax? Especially when you thought you were relaxed.

Answer:

Generally, when the dentist is asking you to relax your mouth it means that you are starting to tighten your jaw muscles and close your mouth, making his/her work that much more difficult.

For short periods of time this isn't generally an issue. But if a procedure is going to take 5 minutes or more, eventually a person starts to close their mouth, simply because its difficult to sit there that long with your mouth wide open.

So, as the dentist notices you closing your mouth and tightening your jaw muscles they will say, relax your mouth, in other words, open wide.

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If you relax, your jaw opens up wider, so he can get his hands and tools in there.

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Let your jaw be more movable, move with him so he can get inside easier.

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It means just let it "hang loose". Don't clench yer jaw.

Sandy

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Wow, someone is nervous at the dentist.

This is a serious question? If he says relax, relax. Your jaw is probably tense when he's trying to do something. He's (probably) not going to kill you or put you to sleep and touch you, so don't worry.

If you need to say something, why can't you just mumble? He'll know you want to say something and let you.

Very strange question.

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i've been in a dent a couple of times and relax means, just keep your JAW fall naturally. dont open too widely coz it'll make the muscles exhausted.

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