Getting Over Your Fear of the Dentist
By
Dental anxiety or fearing the dentist is a problem that many people have, and something that is somewhat difficult to overcome. This fear normally prevents rational people from visiting the dentist and maintaining the health of their teeth. The key to keeping your teeth healthy is to prevent problems before they start. Those who suffer from dental anxiety will try to avoid going to the dentist, which results in problems.
When someone who suffers from dental anxiety finally goes to the dentist, they normally find that even the smallest of problems can turn serious and require a lot of work and intervention from the dentist. Even though you may not realize it, regular cleaning visits to your dentist is the best way to keep your teeth healthy, and prevent problems such as decay and cavities.
You can use several techniques to overcome dental anxiety. Some of the techniques require mild sedatives, also referred to as sedation. Sedation is a way to relax, given by breathing or IV (Intra Vein) through a vein in your arm. Sedation will help you to calm down, although you will normally be awake to answer questions or talk to your dentist.
Some people who suffer from dental anxiety have had bad experiences. Any type of negative dental experience will normally result in emotional scarring and last for years. Anything that results in negative feelings for the patient will normally cause them to feel in a negative way toward the entire dental profession. Although all dentists aren’t bad – a negative experience will certainly make a patient feel that way.
When you look fora dentist, you should always ask your family and friends who they use, and who they recommend. When you visit a dentist, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask him any questions that come to mind, so you can be more relaxed. You should always keep in mind that you are customer, and the dentist is the one who needs to make you feel relaxed. Never should you feel intimidated, as the best dentists will do everything they can to establish a sense of trust.
Establishing trust is very important with the patient/dentist relationship. You’ll be going to your dentist on a frequent basis, so you’ll want to be sure that you can trust him. When you go to your dentist for the first time, you should let him know about your dental anxiety. If he isn’t willing to talk about it with you or do things to help you relax, you should look into a new dentist.
You can always tell who the better dentists are by the type of facilities they have. Dentists who have a lot of customers or nice offices, have established themselves and proved that they are indeed the best. If a dentist has a lot of customers, it lets you know that he has them for a reason. People that are satisfied with a dentist, normally return.
If you suffer from dental anxiety, you should always let your dentist know in advance. This way, he work with you to overcome your fear. Over time, you’ll find that you can overcome your fear and establish a great relationship with your dentist. You can get over your fear of dentists, no matter how bad your fear may be. It will take you some time, although your dentist should be willing to work with you. Before you know it, you’ll be over your fear and more than willing to go to your dentist.
Steve Cownley
http://general-info.890m.com/generalinfo/
Watch the video related
This clip was taken from an interesting documentary called “Alternative Therapies” that aired on BBC2 on 17th March 2008. This clip features a dental procedure where the top row front teeth are removed and replaced using hypnotherapy instead of a conventional anaesthetic. Mind over matter? I would think so …
Help answer the question
What are the different types of dentists and what do they do?
I thought that you only needed one dentist to do everything, but then I found out that there was a different type of dentist to do my root canal. So what are the different types of dentists, and what do they do?
dentists
18 Comments
October 27th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
See especially the second source below…it addresses your problem specifically. The first source is a medical resource for various medical conditions including phobias. The second source will provide step by step methods of overcoming the fear associated with Dentists and Dentistry.
Get well soon!
October 27th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Face it, go to the dentist ASAP.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Hi my friend , I wanna know , that what programme should i choose after my BDS in belgim ?
October 27th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
hey im a dental student at the moment and am also a dental hygienist,
feel free to email me if u cant find my email then reply to this and ill send you it,
id be glad to help
x
October 27th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Evertime I have to get something done at the dentist I take myself down to the beach walk hehe I love hypnosis, Its a fantastic tool, I remember watching the whole series, Thanks for posting.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:18 am
You can Tell your 4 yr old postive things about the dentist e.g. dentist are here to help, so you can eat your chocolate and cakes.
I don't think suprising her will work.
You can talk to the dentist, maybe he can help aswell. or you can talk to your 4 yr old – maybe the dentist looks scary with a big moustache or something.
but you can also look on the link below for treatments e.g. relaxation techniques
October 29th, 2009 at 1:26 am
If you go to 1-800-DENTIST they specialize in people who have fears of the dentist. They can hook you up with a dentist in your area that uses laughing gas, for even small procedures. It will help you calm down and forget your fears.
"Are you nervous about an upcoming dental procedure? If so, laughing gas, comprised of nitrogen and oxygen, may be just what the doctor ordered. This odorless and colorless gas, officially known as nitrous oxide or N2O, probably won't make you giggle while you're in your dentist's chair. However, for those of you who get uptight or squeamish before or during dental procedures, this commonly used sedative and anti-anxiety agent can help promote a sense of relaxation, calm and general well-being."
Check it out.
October 29th, 2009 at 2:40 am
There are actually Dentists who specialize in helping people who are afraid of them. They can give you medication to help you calm down, give you laughing gas to help you calm down, or put you to sleep so you sleep through the whole thing. Do some research in your area and find one who will help you.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Hey i have some question about dentisry PLZZZ ! … IS there any dentist or dentistry student ?
October 29th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I had this problem and talked to my dentist and we decided to try me bringing in a Walkman and using it to block out the sounds. It worked great because most of my fear was brought on by sound and not real pain. I go in and put my headphones on making sure the wires hung down my back while in the chair. we got others doing the same and it worked every time that he installed a system so now when people go to him it becomes part of the session.
October 29th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
October 29th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Here is my experience, hopefully it can help you:
As a child, I had a lot of dental work done including appliances that I needeed a key to turn to widen my palate. As I teen I had braces but developed severe headaches from that. So, when I became an adult I stopped going to the dentist-bad thing. I just was so scared to go. So I started having a toothache. I got it to go away a few times but I knew sooner or later I would not be able to control it, plus I could hardly eat. Also, I did not want to wait until it was like over a weekend and I would need emergency service which would really cost me and put the dentist at a big inconvenience.
So, I went in. I pretty much thought I would need to have the tooth pulled. So while i was in the waiting room, I could hear the dentist with a patient talking. She was getting a tooth pulled and he was saying it would be fine and then she said well arent you going to pull it and and he said I already did and that made me feel so much better. So I did need my tooth pulled. I did need a shot to numb it but the shot is like nothing, like a mosquito bite. So he pulled my tooth in like seconds and it was a back one too. I had been so worried for nothing. The worse part is just having a numb mouth. The shot was not painful at all.
So I ended up needing 2 root canals and 2 caps and again the worse thing was the numb feeling each time. Also there are weird tastes and the usual dental sounds but it was nothing.
Just yesterday and today I had to get scaling and root planing, 2 hours each day and it did not require shots just topical anesthetic. There was a lot of scraping and different tastes and a bit of minor minor pain from my gums as they did it but it was nothing. And they said if the topical numbing stuff was not enuf they would numb it iwth the shot but I did not need that at all.
So, I pretty much have gotten done all the things done that can be done.
Also, another I thing about when I feel so scared about dental work is how bad is it that I am worrying about such a simple thing when there are people right now worrying about their cancer and cancer treatment or other major healthcare problems. My worry is so little compared to theirs. I also think that I am going to get there at the time of my appointment and within 1-1/2 hours I will be home already.
I mean I was terried of dentists so I hope this helps you. Just get there and you will be fine!
I understand your feelings though.
October 30th, 2009 at 5:52 am
No problem – meditation is useful as well – I think these two areas are linked. Using the mind as a tool, rather than having the mind run wild through the fear response.
October 30th, 2009 at 5:58 am
=O
OMG!
October 30th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
i just came back from a filling, and nothing hurt! except for a tooth which has lost its nerve
October 30th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
October 30th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
O_O
October 31st, 2009 at 12:04 am
Ever since I’ve just came back from the dentist I’ve been looking at dentist videos for some reason O_O. My face is still numb xDD