subject: Overcome Your Dental Anxiety With Help From Your Dentist In Pembroke Pines [print this page] Does the thought of receiving treatment, even routine care, send shivers down your spine? If you fear the dentist, you are not alone. However, neglecting dental care can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease. It can also make the management of some health issues very difficult such as stroke, diabetes, organ transplants and prosthetic joint replacements. Patients with anxiety disorders may disregard their oral health altogether and are at an increased risk for dental caries, periodontal disease, and bruxism. Talk to your dentist about your anxiety and what medications you are on to alert them to potential symptoms.
What is Dental Anxiety?
Sometimes, a person's fear of going to the dentist, or undergoing dental procedures, can be so severe that they may lose sleep at night, and worry excessively about what might happen at the dentist's office. People are anxious about going to the dentist to receive treatment for various reasons. Past experiences shared by family and friends are top sources of anxiety for patients, while other factors that contribute to dental anxiety include:
*Feeling like the dentist is rushed or is neglecting your concerns
*Anxiety about the effectiveness of local anesthetic
*Anticipation of pain
*Sterile smell of the dentist's office
*Interrupting the normal day's routine
*For children, the first visit is a journey into the unknown
A survey performed by the American Association of Endodontists found that 80 percent of adults fear the dentist. More than half of these adults say that their fear is enough to keep them from visiting their dentist for proper dental procedures. Additionally, women and children report more dental anxieties than men and the elderly.
What Makes You Nervous?
Many people worry about going to the dentist. You may experience extreme nervousness and may even feel sick to your stomach. To help get over your dental anxiety, it is helpful to understand what may be making you nervous. Some reasons include:
*Having had a painful or bad experience in the past.
*Feeling helpless or out of control.
*Being embarrassed about the condition of your teeth
*Hearing about others' bad experiences at the dentist or being influenced by how TV, newspapers, or magazines portray them.
*A fear of the unknown
How to Feel Less Anxious
To help feel less anxious about visiting your dentist it is important to talk about your fears. Tell your dentist that you are nervous, and try to explain why. This way your dentist can do everything possible to put you at ease. Ask your dentist about what is going to happen in your procedure and why. If you understand the steps of getting a filling, for example, you may feel less nervous about it. Ask your dentist to tell you when they are moving from one step in a procedure to another step.
Additionally, make your dental visit at a time when you are not rushed or under pressure. An early morning, late afternoon, or Saturday appointment may be the best times, as you may not have to worry about missing school or work. Use relaxation techniques, as well, when needed. As you sit in the chair, try deep breathing or thinking about a favorite activity or place.
If you are experiencing dental anxiety, don't avoid the dentist. Avoiding dental care can lead to serious problems, including infected gums and teeth, difficulty chewing, and lack of self-confidence because of bad teeth or bad breath. Talk to your dentist in Pembroke Pines to help relieve your dental anxiety.
