subject: Overcoming Your Fear Of The Dentist For Your Health [print this page] You know the health of your mouth is extremely important, but you can't seem to bring yourself to go to the dentist. Many children and adults are very uncomfortable with these doctors, but they can the difference between keeping your teeth or needing dentures.
After all, the key to good oral health is prevention -stopping problems before they arise. Unfortunately, people who suffer from dental anxiety often fail to visit the dentist for routine care.
When they finally do go, often a small preventable problem has turned into a problem which will require major intervention. Most dental phobics have had very negative experiences with either unskilled, uncaring, or incompetent dentists.
The most important step to overcoming dental anxiety is finding a good dentist. You should always start with a list of dentists so that you have options.
A good dentist is one who is patient, is highly competent, endeavors to make each meeting pain free, genuinely cares about you, and has the ability to nurture you through past traumas. Ask friends and family for a list of regional professionals that they would recommend.
Of course, you do not want a list of Atlanta dentists if you are in Pennsylvania. Feel free to ask any potential dentist about his practice, practice philosophy, and the steps he or she takes to make dentistry pain free and anxiety free.
Remember, do not be intimidated. You are the consumer and it is the professional who should be selling you on his or her service.
It takes a true partnership between the patient and the doctor a growing trust, and a growing relationship that cannot nor should not be pushed faster than the patient can accept. Usually the first appointment is a 'get to know you visit' where the doctor take a complete medical and dental history and have a discussion with the patient.
By clearly explaining any planned procedures (what they are and why they plan to do them) and by answering all of the patient's questions, much of the anxiety can be eliminated. If all goes well, your professional may do an intraoral examination using a special camera that lets us see, on a monitor, the inside of the patient's mouth .
The second visit includes discussion on what is the most stressful thing about dentistry for the patient and ways we can reduce if not eliminate that stress. They perform an examination, take X-rays and develop a treatment plan.
If the patient is ready for a cleaning of the teeth, they may proceed. The progress made in each visit is controlled by the patient and their readiness to continue.
No pressure at all. During future visits, they follow through with the necessary procedures.
A person can also reduce their anxiety by bringing a friend or loved one along with them for support. Do not schedule appointments during stressful times.
Do not, for example, schedule an appointment before a major business meeting, or in the middle of the day if you know you have several tasks to do after the appointment. Also, during the procedure, make sure that your dentist shows you exactly what they are doing.
Make sure they tell you when you are going to feel pressure, and when they are going to feel coldness. There are techniques available to minimize pain.
In the few cases where the patient will feel discomfort, they may tell you. Not surprisingly, anxiety is reduced if a patient knows exactly what to expect.
It is so important to find a dentist you can trust and who is willing to do what it takes to relieve your anxiety. Many dentists will use a technique known as guided imagery where they will tell you to think about pleasant experiences (such as sunbathing on a beach in the Bahamas) while the procedure is going on.
Some dentists may go over relaxation techniques with you. Others will play soothing music in the background or allow the patient to bring in a walkman and headphones.
Some even have virtual reality goggles which the patient can wear during the procedure. If your dentist is unwilling to discuss your anxiety or try things to help reduce your anxiety, it is time to get a new dentist.
Remember that an educated consumer is a less anxious consumer. Make sure they explain each and every procedure you undergo.
Professionals usually have videos, pamphlets, or books explaining the procedures they perform. Talk to your friends and family about their recommendation today!
