Assuaging the Anxiety: How to Overcome Your Fear of the Dentist

Many people are afraid of going to the dentist. Since regular check-ups are an important part of maintaining good oral health, people do need to go. Not going increases the risk of developing tooth decay or gum disease, and the latter can lead to infections that affect other parts of the body. There are ways to make the experience less frightening. Nervous patients should look for dentists who provide the following.

An Unthreatening Office

Many people find the sights, sounds and smells of a dentist’s office unnerving. While posters about gum disease or tooth decay are meant to be educational, they also upset more sensitive patients. The patient should choose a dentist whose office has soothing and attractive décor.

Pediatric dentists may add bright colors and whimsical touches such as doorknobs shaped like toothbrushes to appeal to their young patients. They also often have toys and games in their waiting room, so their patients can entertain themselves while they wait. Playing children are less likely to be anxious when it’s their turn.

Willingness to Explain Procedures

Fear and ignorance are closely linked: people often fear what they don’t understand. A patient should look for a dentist who is willing to explain what a given procedure will involve. The dentist should also provide an honest assessment of how much pain a treatment is likely to hurt.

They should also describe ways of managing said pain; they can assure the patient they will use a local anesthetic, for instance. A dentist may also show the patient the instruments they will use and explain what they do.

Sedation Dentistry

Many dentists from places like Dental Implant & Cosmetic, PC, offer sedatives to help calm their patients and reduce their sensitivity to pain. The sedatives can be taken orally, through an IV, or through inhalation. In the last method, the patient wears a cup-like “nasal hood” over the nose and breathes in nitrous oxide. Before sedating the patient, the dentist should take their medical history and pay particular attention to any medications they are taking.

Giving the Patient Control

One reason people fear dentist is they feel completely at their mercy. The patient should choose a dentist who is willing to give them as much control as possible, and even allow them to leave if they become terrified. They should look for a dentist who is willing to discuss procedures in their office, rather than after the patient is already in the dental chair.

Fear of the dentist is common and understandable. Since going to the dentist is necessary, the patient needs to choose a sensitive and empathetic dentist who can help allay their anxiety.