subject: Dental Anxiety- Learning To Control Your Fear To Stay Healthy [print this page] Are you afraid of going to the dentist? Do you purposely avoid scheduling appointments specifically because of your fear? Like millions of other people, you are probably suffering from dental anxiety or phobia. The first step to overcoming your anxiety is to remember that you are not alone, a very high percentage of people report having some anxiety about going to visit the dentist. Many of these people are able to overcome their fears and successfully become frequent visitors of their dentist. It is important to continue to see your dentist because neglecting your oral health can cause a variety of problems that could be prevented or detected early by visiting a trained dentist.
What Causes Dental Anxiety?
There are a variety of potential causes for dental anxiety. Here are a few of the more common ones:
*Bad experiences. If you have had a bad or painful experience with a dentist, this can lead to increased fears about going back. If this is the case, you may need to find a dentist that you are more comfortable with.
*History of abuse. If a patient has been abused or bullied throughout his or her life, they will have a higher likelihood of developing dental phobia or dental anxiety.
*Loss of control. Many people are uncomfortable with having someone else sticking objects into their mouth without them knowing what is going on.
*Fear of pain. Lots of patients are simply afraid of the pain they think they will experience at their dentist's office. This can be caused by a past experience or fear of an upcoming procedure.
What Can You Do To Combat Anxiety?
The good news for people who are suffering from dental anxiety is that many people are able to overcome their problem through a few different methods. Here are some tips to help combat dental anxiety:
*Find a dentist you are comfortable with. This is the most important thing you can do to combat anxiety. You need to find a dentist that you are comfortable with and whom you trust completely. If you are uncomfortable, you must feel confident that he or she will stop if you tell him or her to stop.
*Communication. It is extremely important to be honest and forthcoming with your dentist about any anxious feelings you may be having. As trained professionals, they have dealt with many people who have the same problem as you. If you tell them how you are feeling, they will be able to adjust their treatment accordingly.
*Use your imagination. For many people, simply closing their eyes and imagining being somewhere else can do wonders for your experience at the dentist.
*Sensory distraction. It can be helpful to bring music on an iPod or to watch television during your appointment to distract yourself from the procedure being performed.
To learn more about dental anxiety and how to conquer it, contact your Little Rock dentist today.
