Are You Scared Of Your Dentist?

Does the thought of visiting the dentist leave you sleepless the night before? Does the mere thought of the sound of the dentist’s drill leave you trembling?

Do not fear, you are one of thousands of people who suffer from the phenomenon, “dental anxiety”. According to the Dr Leonard Sizani: “Ignoring routine oral care because of dental anxiety is sure to lead to the development of larger problems. This will inevitably result in lengthier and more costly dental interventions, because after-neglect treatment will often be the only option.

Take a look at the questions below, if you answer yes to any of them, you may be suffering from dental anxiety:

• Do you cancel your dental appointment as a result of slight uneasiness and tension the night before your visit?
• Do you experience a bout of nervousness while waiting in your dentist’s reception area?
• Have you had an unpleasant experience during a visit to the dentist?
• Do you feel uneasy and anxious while in the dentist’s chair?
• Does the thought of a dental injection leave you tense and physically ill?
• Does the sight of the dentist’s or oral hygienist’s instruments make you anxious?
• Are you afraid or embarrassed that the dentist will say that you have the worst mouth he/she has ever seen?
• Do the objects placed in your mouth by the dentist make you panic and feel like you can’t breathe?
• Do you feel like your dentist is unsympathetic towards you?

So now that you know whether you suffer from the condition or not, what can you do about it? You can’t not go to the dentist, so you need to find ways to alleviate your fears of receiving dental care. Here are some suggestions:

Choose Your Dentist
Choose a dentist who is on the same wavelength as you. When seeking out a suitable dentist, choose someone who will be empathetic to your needs while in the chair. He/she should make you feel comfortable and secure so that you do not feel or act afraid. You should also feel free to ask for information without feeling embarrassed. The dentist should help you make informed choices when determining your course of treatment.

Remember, dentist’s who treat children in their practices tend to be extremely patient and could be just what you need.

What You Eat Affects Your Level Of Anxiety
Eating high-protein foods, like cheese, one hour before your dental appointment and stopping your caffeine intake at least six hours before, can do wonders for relieving anxiety. Always keep in mind that sugary foods can increase agitation and that carbohydrates do not have the same calming effect that protein rich foods do.

Breathe
Anxious people tend to hold their breath, which inadvertently increases their feeling of panic since anxiousness decreases oxygen levels. The solution is to focus on breathing regularly and slowly and always remember to pause between inhaling and exhaling for a few seconds.

Get The Facts
Procedures like “root canal” often strike fear into the hearts of potential candidates. Familiarise yourself with this or any other procedure that may scare you – chances are that due to the many technological advances made in dentistry over the years, these procedures are not as bad as you think.

Try The Simple Art Of Relaxation
Get into the habit of using a method of relaxation that works for you. This could involve anything from visualizing yourself on a tropical beach, to consciously relaxing your body muscles from head to toe. If you find that music is a source of relaxation for you, take a tape along to your dentist and ask him to play it while working on your mouth.

It is probably true to say that visiting a dentist will never be on top of anyone’s to-do list, but you can make sure that the fear you may have felt during past visits, is lessened by taking control of your oral and dental health.