Most people feel some level of anxiety about sitting in the dentist’s chair, but dental phobia is more than that. It makes your heartbeat increase, your blood pound through your veins, and your mouth feel dry. Some people experience so much anxiety that the thought of even entering a dental waiting room paralyzes them with fear. Appointments get cancelled or are not made at all, and dental care falls by the wayside.
Causes of dental phobia
There are a variety of reasons that people may fear the dentist, or it can be a combination of things that produce alarm. Some common causes include:
- Sounds, smells, and sights of a dental office
- Helpless feelings from lying in a dental chair
- Painful or upsetting memories of negative dental experiences in the past
- Thoughts of horror stories (true or untrue) about dental experiences
Tips to avoid dental phobia
If you are one of those people who are afraid to make or keep a dental appointment, the following tips may help:
- Find a good dentist who acknowledges dental phobias. Dentists with experience treating patients who suffer from dental phobias should be prepared with processes and options to help calm your fears. The goal of the dentist should be to make you as comfortable as possible in order to effectively provide you with dental care.
- Ask about distractions allowed or available in the dental office, such as music or DVDs. Headphones playing music can drown out office noises, DVDs playing a movie can block sights and sounds, and even reading material can ease your fears and distract you from the visit.
- Consider sedation dentistry to help you relax during treatment. A certified anesthetist is available in some dental practices to provide safe sedation techniques so that you feel comfortable, may not remember the treatment experience, and promote the ability for multiple procedures during a single dental visit.
Importance of the right dentist
For handling patients with dental phobias, the right dentist is imperative. Not only will your teeth and gums be healthier, your overall health will be improved when you take the steps for proper oral health care.
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