Dental Anxiety - ways to manage your fear of the dentist

Let's face it. The fact of the matter is most people prefer not to visit the dentist, if given the choice (no offence to all dentists out there!). Most try to withstand the discomfort or pain that they may be experiencing instead of making that dreaded appointment with the tooth doctor. So what is it that sparks off the general population's extreme fear or phobia of dentists? What can we do to overcome these anxieties? Having chatted with friends and colleagues alike, the following is what I have discovered.

WHY WE ARE TERRIFIED OF THE DENTIST

* The Pain

We associate pain with dentists, even though in reality it is the procedure that might inflict some pain. "But he is holding the instrument that causes the pain," objected a colleague of mine. "Yeah, but look at it this way - no pain no gain," contributed another. "What if the local anesthetic wears off too early or worse still, not take effect?" chirped in one other.
The things it dentistry has come a long way since my parents' days. The truth is while there might be some pain in the initial injection of the anesthetic, majority of the procedure is pretty painless.

* Old Memories

According to Freud, the unconscious side of us is a part of our psyche that we are not aware of. It holds our thoughts, old memories and various impulses. These impulses cause much of our behaviour and responses. Some of our old memories include unpleasant experiences during our younger days at the dental surgery.

* The dentist is not attentive to our needs

We fear that we are not able to communicate with the dentists during the procedure, sparking a fear that we could experience greater pain without the dentist being aware of it.

* The cost

For some of us, it is just the plain old cost of having any dental work done. With the rising cost of living in most countries, majority of the population do have difficulty in finding that cash within their budget to afford them the trip to the dentist.

WAYS TO MANAGE DENTAL ANXIETY

How do you take control of these fears?

1. Find a dentist whom you like and can communicate your apprehensions with. It is important to build your trust level.
2. Get as much information as possible about the procedure. Know what you will be facing, that generally helps relieve anxieties.
3. Enquire about the tools that the dentist will use, how they are used and what they are used for.
4. Enquire about relaxation sedatives and any advanced anesthetics that he could recommend — what may be used and how long it may last.
5. Use hand signals to communicate during the procedure.
6. If the sound of the treatment becomes an issue for you, put on your headphones and listen to your favourite music.
7. Avoid coffee or tea prior to the procedure as it can make you nervous.
8. Relax, inhale slowly.
9. If dental costs is a concern for you, contact dental schools in your area and enquire about provide quality care at reduced prices with easy payment plans.

I am fortunate to have a dentist here in Melbourne, Australia who is a personable man, easy to talk to and one who explains the procedure thoroughly. His patience and caring attitude speaks volumes about him as a person and as a doctor. I cannot speak highly enough of him. My kids are thoroughly comfortable going to see him, their comments were that he makes it a point to relate to them and their needs. I would also encourage you to search for one such dentist, it will ensure that your visit to the dentist is a pleasant one.

This article was written after I had the experience of having a dental tooth extraction performed on one of my molars. I am not a medical person, the advice here is gleaned from my own and friends' experiences visiting the dentist. If you do have any questions or worries, I seriously encourage you to contact your dentist for advice.

Meanwhile, keep smiling and take care!


Read more
Caring For Your Gums after a Dental Tooth Extraction http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Care-for-Your-Gums-after-Dental-Tooth-Extraction
Managing Dental Anxieties http://hubpages.com/hub/Tooth-Extraction-Jitters-ways-to-manage-your-Dental-Anxieties

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