Dental Anxiety: Ways To Stop Fearing The Dentist

Do you have fears or anxieties about seeing a dentist? Maybe your children are anxious about trips to the dentist. Yet you know you and your children should go. Dental check-ups are essential to help prevent tooth decay. You might take care of your teeth regularly, brush using the best ayurvedic toothpaste, but it still cannot prevent the inevitable decay.

You’re not alone. Many people have anxiety about seeing their dentist – even if they’ve only ever had good experiences.

Few people look forward to a spell in the dentist's chair. But serious anxiety prevents millions of Americans from seeking proper preventative care. The consequences of this problem may go far beyond dental pain or lost teeth. Gum disease is a serious infection that can affect other parts of the body. Studies now link it to illnesses including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Fortunately, many dentists are specially trained in handling fearful patients; a variety of methods and treatments are available to reduce pain and alleviate fear in the dentist's chair.

The 'Root' Causes

Between 5% and 8% of people avoid dentists out of fear. A higher percentage, perhaps 20%, experiences enough anxiety that they will go to the dentist only when absolutely necessary.

There are many dentists whose dental practice specializes in fearful patients. About two-thirds of them relate their fear to a bad experience in the dentist's office. Another third have other issues for which fear of dentists can be an unpleasant side effect, such as various mood or anxiety disorders, substance abuse, or post-traumatic stress experienced by war veterans, victims of domestic violence, and victims of childhood sexual abuse.

Fear of dentists stems not so much from the experience of pain as from the lack of control that patients experience in the dentist's chair. You're lying prone, a dentist is hovering above you, and he's putting you in a situation where you can hardly talk or respond. That creates a lot of anxiety for some people because they don't feel in control.

Still, many dentists create unnecessary anxiety in patients because they assume that all patients have similar pain thresholds and will handle dental procedures in the same way. If all dentists were a lot more careful about pain control, took the time to be sure patients were comfortable, and didn't go ahead if they weren't comfortable, then there would be fewer phobics.

Fearful patients need to be more assertive about their needs. Patients should say to their dentists, "I want to talk about what can be done to make me more comfortable. I don't want someone to tell me something doesn't hurt me."

Treating Fear of Dentists

Some dentists who specialize in treating fearful patients go out of their way to create a non-threatening environment. Many "people have a fight-or-flight reaction" to the sights, sounds, and smells of a dental office, and taking away these cues has a calming effect. 

The best dentists use simple methods to enhance that feeling of control:

• They gently explain what the patient will soon feel, and for about how long.
• They frequently ask the patient for permission to continue.
• They give the patient the opportunity to stop the procedure at any time the patient feels uncomfortable. 
• They make time for breaks as requested.

Many dentists lack the patience to treat fearful patients with the care they deserve. Even those who advertise that they "cater to cowards" may not do a good job of it. If you're looking for a new dentist, be honest about your fears from the first call. Ask to speak to the dentist about your fears before you come in. If the receptionist seems dismissive, or the dentist never returns your call, don't go. That's not the right office for you.

Taking Charge

Chances are, visiting a dentist won't be nearly as painful as you expect. Surveys of patients before and after the most dreaded procedures, such as a root canal or wisdom tooth extraction, have found that they anticipated much more discomfort than they actually experienced.

The root canal, in particular, gets a "bad rep" because it is typically preceded by painful toothaches. The diseased tooth which is still in the gums causes the pain. If you think using the best ayurvedic toothpaste for gingivitis can help you avoid root canal treatment, then you are wrong. The procedure itself relieves this pain, often in just a single visit. Wisdom tooth extractions get a bad name because of occasional jaw pain experienced several days afterwards, which can be treated with pills.

Still, even if your mind tells you you'll be just fine, your body may still fear that dentist's chair. 

Here are a few tips that may help you overcome your fear of the dentist:

• Go to that first visit with someone you trust, such as a close relative who has no fear of dentists. You can even encourage friends and relatives to sit with you during treatment.
• Seek distraction while in the dentist's chair. Listen to your own music on headphones, a new CD, not one you've heard a lot, so you'll be a little more interested in it. Or find a dentist with a TV or other distractions available in the treatment room.
• Try relaxation techniques. Practice controlled breathing, taking a big breath, holding it, and letting it out very slowly, like you are a leaky tire. This will slow your heartbeat and relax your muscles. Another technique is progressive muscle relaxation, which involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in turn.
• Review with your dentist which sedatives are available or appropriate. Options include local anaesthetic, nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"), oral sedatives, and intravenous sedation. While oversedation can be dangerous, too many dentists are uncomfortable using any oral sedation. And only some dentists are qualified to perform IV sedation.
• If you can't bring yourself to go to any dentist, you might want to try seeing a psychologist first. The most tried and true approach to treating dental phobia (and other phobias) is direct therapeutic exposure. It involves introducing the patient to feared items say, a needle in a gradual and controlled manner.

These fears and anxieties may affect your quality of life if they’re left untreated. They may prevent you from having important treatment or visiting the dentist at all, which is not recommended as even the best ayurvedic toothpaste in India cannot solve all of your dental emergencies. If your dental fears are affecting your quality of life, it’s time to get some help. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is an especially great therapy for fears and phobias. It’s effective in removing unconscious blocks and unhelpful thinking patterns. It can retrain your monkey mind! Alternatively, seek out a therapist who is experienced in treating fears and phobias.