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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Are you afraid or anxious to go see your dentist? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Dental anxiety is one of the most common types of anxiety around, but one that you’ll have to confront sooner rather than later for your own good. After all, we can’t go telling our kids they need to go and then be chicken ourselves, can we?
What is dental anxiety?
Dental anxiety is loosely described as fear of going to the dentist. Patients may have had a bad experience (painful) or they may have heard about someone else’s less than ideal visit. Sometimes patients are scared of what the dentist might tell them, or the treatment that might be prescribed. Other times, there isn’t really a rational explanation as to why patients feel anxious, but they do, so the anxiety has to be dealt with as best as possible.
Common dental anxiety triggers:
Fear of the ‘dentist drill’ – the sound, the vibration, the knowledge that it’s literally drilling a hole in your tooth? There’s lots of reasons not to be fond of this one so we get it, the drill sucks.
Needles – some patients don’t like needles period. Others have had them before and know they usually involve an amount of pain, even if it’s small, as the pointy end gets stuck into your gumline. Not fun to say the least.
Fears of sedation – some treatments require sedation, which may or may not appeal to some patients. This dental anxiety trigger goes both ways, as it’s one of the ways a dentist can help patients overcome their fear of the chair.
Fear of being embarrassed – If you’re mouth isn’t in top shape, the last thing you’ll want is for someone to get all up close and personal with it. However, how is it ever going to get fixed if your dentist can’t work on it?
How to overcome your fear of the dentist
Even the hardiest of us don’t ‘love’ visiting the dentist. It’s usually at the very least a mildly uncomfortable experience, even if the worst of it is having to keep your mouth wide open for an extended period of time. Factor in needles, sedation, cavities, etc. and you have quite a few reasons to be scared to visit. That’s why we’re here to give you a few tips on you can begin to overcome your fear, or at least control it, and visit the dentist like you know you ought to.
Choose the right dentist
This one really helps because knowing you’re in good hands can make a world of difference for your anxiety level. Before choosing a dentist, visit several for face-to-face meetings so you can get an understanding of if you trust this person with your teeth. It’s also important that your chosen dentist is sympathetic to your anxiety and knows how to put you at ease in the chair, be it with some comforting words, a corny joke, or a mild sedative to take the edge off.
Everybody has to go to the dentist
There’s no reason to be embarrassed about your dental anxiety. WE all get it to some degree and no one will look at you strangely for it. Especially not anyone at the dentist office. Just make your appointment, get your butt over to the office and get your teeth cleaned or checked on. Once you’ve done it, you’ll feel a million times better and the next time will be easier than this one.
Make an easy appointment
This tip can help you actually follow through on visiting for your appointment. Choose an appointment time that’s convenient for you, with a dentist you’re comfortable with (see tip #1) and who’s office isn’t a huge mission to get to. This will give you a few less excuses and make it more difficult for you to chicken out of your appointment.
Bring along a friend for support
It’s pretty self-explanatory right? Take someone you trust with you so that you can draw on their emotional support and they can help keep your mind off of the negative things you’ve been envisioning in your own head.
Speak to your dentist beforehand
If you know you’ve got dental anxiety (which of course you do), then let your dentist know as well. They might be able to prescribe some mild sedatives or even administer sedation dentistry measures like nitrous oxide (laughing gas) onsite to keep you relaxed and comfortable during your visit. Nitrous oxide works instantly and will wear off quickly, so you can continue with your day after your appointment. Speak with your dentist and see what options they have available and what they recommend.
Going to the dentist doesn’t have to be a nail-biting affair if you follow some of your advice and plan ahead. Speak with your dentist, involve a trusted person, but most importantly, make it to your appointment and take care of your teeth like you should. Want to more, you can visit the website of this trusted dentist in St. Catharines.