If
you are afraid to go the dentist, then you've come to the right
Place
Did
you know that dental phobias and anxiety stem from a variety
of things? From a psychological point of view, this fear could
result in “conditioned” response:
Dental
anxiety or fear of the dentist is a major stumbling block for
many people just like you. It usually prevents otherwise intelligent,
rational people from optimizing and maintaining their dental
health.
Sometimes
when someone has had a painful or negative experience during
visits to a dentist's office they may develop “dental phobias”.
This can even include careless comments made by a dentist or
hygienist to you during a past appointment. Another possible
cause of dental fear is a severe discomfort with your vulnerability
and/or feeling out of control in the dental situation. People
want to be capable of taking care of their own mouth. Sometimes
if you are embarrassed of your dental neglect and are afraid
of ridicule or belittlement when you’re at the dental office,
you might end up with a dental phobia.
Scary
stories of bad dental experiences learned through family and
friends may cause you to fear the dentist and dental appointments
to an extent in which your behavior intervenes in your normal
daily routine. Negative, menacing portrayals of dentists in
movies, TV, newspapers and magazines also contribute to the
many causes of dental phobia, as well as a sense of lack of
individual attention. This is intensified by today's necessity
for the use of barrier precautions, such as masks, latex gloves
and shields. Added to this, you might just be afraid of the
unknown, which is undoubtedly a primary factor of dental phobia.
Now,
of course it’s not enough to just mention causes concerning
this fear, it’s also important that you consider the possibilities,
which put simply is a self-reflexive question: “What can I do?”
Overcoming the fear is foremost on the list. Once you see that
fear is a learned behavior, you can also learn to change it.
You
should feel comfortable expressing your fears and concerns.
You need an audience, which is to say, you need to be listened
to. If you think that your dentist and/or staff are not genuinely
concerned and listening to you, then you are not out of line
to seek out referrals to other offices. Compromising necessary
communication levels is, by no means, as beneficial as a sense
of control over your dental office situations.
Remember
too that if you’re educated, you’re less anxious. Make sure
your dentist explains each and every procedure that is undergone.
Good dentists usually have videos, pamphlets, or books for you,
explaining the procedures they perform. A good dentist will
answer the questions you have, which is likely to lessen your
anxiety.
Other
ways you can handle dental phobia is to ask your friends and
family for dentists they would recommend. You ought to feel
free to ask any potential dentist about his or her practice,
about their practice philosophy and about the steps he or she
takes to make dentistry a positive and beneficial experience.
Remember, you shouldn’t be intimidated. You are the patient,
the consumer, and it’s the dentist who should be selling you
his or her service.
It’s
possible that some dentists may go over relaxation techniques
with you, which is often beneficial and, for many, a foundation
for a solid, controlled experience. Other dentists will play
peaceful music for you in the background or allow you to bring
in a walkman and headphones. Some dentists even have virtual
reality goggles that you can wear during the procedure, which
may seem excessive, is allowing more Americans to see that there
is a way to over come their fears now more than ever before.
A
good relationship between you and your dentist, with good communication,
is the key factor in overcoming dental anxiety. You should feel
comfortable discussing anxieties with your dentist and should
be confident that he or she will do everything possible to reduce
your anxiety. If this isn’t the case, than it is time to look
for a new dentist who is willing to meet your needs.
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2006: The Smiles Dr | All Rights Reserved | Cosmetic
Dentist | Toothache Dentist | Emergency
Dentist | Public Holiday Dentist
