Dental Phobia – Approaches to Tackle Fear of the Dentist
Struggling with dental phobia or fear of the dentist is a common problem for many people. There could be different causes for this — it may have developed during one’s childhood because of a terrible experience they had at the clinic, or perhaps it gradually grew in them over time.
However, there are simple ways by which you can overcome your anxiety. One such method is talking about it with your dentist.
Talk to Your Dentist
Talking openly with a dentist about their worries and concerns can greatly help those who suffer from dental anxiety. Sharing what specific things trigger their fears and describing how they feel during an appointment can be useful in expressing themselves better and knowing what techniques like deep breathing exercises, muscle relaxation methods, distractions or conscious sedation might work best to control levels of anxiety.
Another person can accompany you during appointments as moral support; sometimes asking a physician for anti-anxiety medications before-hand may also help alleviate symptoms such as excessive perspiration and rapid heartbeat rates. Psychotherapeutic interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy have been found effective in reducing anxiety too.
Take Deep Breaths
Many people dread sitting on that chair because they feel helpless while the dentist is doing painful procedures, but one way to combat this fear is understanding that your dentist recognizes your right to self-determination and will give you breaks when necessary.
Research indicates that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective tool in reducing fear around dental visits. This works by identifying any negative thoughts fuelling these fears then replacing them with positive ones. It may take some time but always remember poor general health resulting from continued avoidance due to cost implications should be avoided as well since most problems detected early are cheaper than treating them later when extensive damage has occurred.
Calm Your Mind
A person sitting in the dental chair often feels powerless against their vulnerability. This could be due to different factors like thinking they are being judged or losing control over personal space and mouth.
Relaxation exercises help alleviate these anxiety feelings greatly. Start from feet going all the way up through legs, back, arms, neck and shoulders until each muscle group is relaxed — this can serve as an excellent preparation for dental visits! It’s also a good technique for practicing relaxation before and during the dentist appointment.
If fear of visiting the dentist continues troubling you, don’t hesitate to speak with them because additional tips might be given on how best deal with your particular case.
Have Enough Sleep
Lack of enough sleep may amplify levels of anxiety. If possible try getting eight hours of sleep before attending any dental appointments that revolve around this issue for you.
Getting support from others can make it easier to overcome one’s phobias; therefore find what works — some prefer deep breaths or meditation while others like visualization or guided imagery.
For severe cases we provide oral sedatives such as diazepam or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to relieve anxiety. General anesthesia too can be used when recommended by your dentist.
To conquer the fear of dentist is a constant journey that can be difficult sometimes; but you have to stay dedicated and patient with yourself because even the tinniest steps can make big changes. Set smaller goals for yourself, celebrate them once they are achieved, reward yourself when your goals are met.
Most people who are afraid of dentists had unpleasant experiences with them as children or during their early life so it’s not unusual. This may also be reinforced by hearing stories from others about their bad encounters at dental clinics or seeing scenes in movies where visits are portrayed as being painful and frightening.
Don’t blame yourself for feeling scared; instead try changing how you think about fear itself. If we consider emotions like these signals coming from our bodies then dealing with them becomes easier through understanding what they want us do differently.
