Dental Health: How to Overcome Your Fear of the Dentist

If you're afraid of the dentist, you're not alone. As many as 15% of Americans stay away from the dentist because they are afraid. Keeping your mouth in top shape is important to your overall health, though, so it's important to learn how to deal with this fear. Here's what you need to know about managing your fear of the dentist.

Get to Know the Dentist

Not every visit to the dentist has to be a cleaning or procedure. Before having work done, schedule an office visit just to talk with the dentist. This appointment should be held in a procedure room so you can become accustomed to sitting in the dental chair. The dentist might use this opportunity to get to know a little about you or discuss your medical history.

Request Explanations

Sometimes dental fears stem from not knowing what is going on. If this describes you, ask the dental staff to keep you very informed about what they are doing as they work on your mouth. For example, ask the dentist to give you an idea of what to expect each step to feel like and how long it will take.

Set up a Signal

Maintaining a sense of control can have a profound effect on your comfort at the dentist's office. To help you feel in control of what is happening during a procedure. Set up a signal with your dentist. When you make the signal, the staff will know to stop what they are doing. Knowing that you can pause the treatment at any time will help you feel like you have a say in what is going on in your mouth, even when you're not in a position to speak.

Ask for Sedation

If your anxiety is intense enough that it keeps you from getting needed treatments, ask your doctor about intravenous sedation. With sedation, you'll be conscious but deeply relaxed. You won't feel pain, and afterward, you may not even remember the procedure. As AuroraSmiles Dental Care assures, "You will be able to have all your dental work completed with comfort and your mind put at ease."

Dental phobias don't have to be detrimental to your oral health. Your dentist wants to help you conquer your fears, so ask for his or her help--whether through a get-to-know-you appointment or a dose of sedation--to tackle your worries.