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| Dental Fear |
Dental Fear - What is it and How to Get Over It
If you're
afraid of going to the dentist, you're not alone. A
British Dental Association survey revealed that 25% of British people
experience some degree of fear of going to the dentist, or
dental
phobia, and a survey by the American Association of Endodontists showed
that a massive 80% of American adults are afraid of the dentist and, of
those, half say that their fear prevents them from scheduling a
check-up. So, what exactly is dental fear and what can be done to get
over it?
There are several levels of dental fear. On the low end
of the scale is a simple fear of the unknown which may manifest itself
as a simple reluctance to visit the dentist. On the other end of the
scale, there is full-blown dental phobia. Here anything related to
dentistry or dental care, such as an advertisement for mouthwash, can
induce severe feelings of stress or panic.
There are many possible
causes of
dental fear, including negative childhood experiences at the
dentists, fear of loss of control, fear of needles or the dentist's
drill, or that one's personal space is being invaded.
The impact
of dental fear on someone's life obviously depends on its severity, but
in many cases it causes the patient to feel a sense of dread before and
during every visit to the dentist. Prior to their appointment, they may
find themselves increasingly preoccupied with thoughts of what will
happen, unable to sleep, and in more severe cases, may experience a
sense of extreme anxiety, and even panic.
A large number of people
actually experience fear so acutely that they avoid going to see
dentists for check-ups, or even when they are clearly in need of
treatment. They may put up with abscesses, infected gums and toothache
rather than go to the dentist, and some will even put up with pain so
bad that they are unable to eat with part of their mouths.
When
dental fear leads to the avoidance of necessary treatment, initial
problems such as poor dental health, pain and stress can quickly become
much more serious: dental problems have been shown to cause or worsen
other health problems in the body, such as heart disease and diabetes.
In
addition to facing potentially serious health issues, people who
neglect dental problems for whatever reason typically find themselves
facing much higher financial costs as more extensive dental treatment
becomes necessary. Additionally, there are also the inevitable costs to
the person's confidence and peace-of-mind that so often accompany poor
dental and general health. It is therefore important that people with
dental fear do not allow it to prevent them from receiving regular
check-ups and, when necessary, treatment.
So what can be done
about dental fear? Here are some simple steps that can help alleviate or
completely remove fear of the dentist:
First of all, it's
important to understand that dental technology has moved on a lot in the
past few years, and if your fear is based on painful prior experiences,
you can feel reassured that things are likely to be much easier and
less painful now. For example, if you're afraid of injections, dentists
can now use a gel that numbs your gum before an injection so that you
don't even feel it. Or you can ask about the variety of sedation options
that are available.
In recent years, dentists have become much
more aware of the importance of reassuring patients and putting them at
ease. A lot of dentists make special efforts to make their clinics as
inviting and relaxing as possible, with pleasant interiors and a
friendly team. Many offer counselling and will be happy just to talk you
through the options available to you. The keys here are to find a
dentist that specialises in treating nervous patients and that you feel
comfortable with. It's really worth looking around and, with so many
dentists available in most areas, there is no reason to continue with a
dentist you cannot relax with or one you feel is not the best for the
job.
Before you even go to see a dentist, try to work out why you
have your fear: when did you first begin to feel it? Was there any
particular cause? Often fear of the dentist is very generalised, but if
you can pinpoint the cause of your fear, or what exactly you're afraid
of, you'll be able to discuss this with the dentist and he or she will
be able to put you at ease.
If you're very scared, you can follow a
progressive approach to your
dental care by working up to your
treatment over a series of visits. This will give you greater and
greater confidence in visiting the dentist. For example, your first
visit could just be to discuss various options and to talk with your
dentist, and maybe to receive some counselling. Your second visit could
be for a very basic check where the dentist uses only a mirror, and then
in your next appointment, you could progress to a simple clean and
polish.
Many patients feel stressed because they perceive
themselves to be helpless while at the dentists. To reduce this feeling,
consider agreeing on a "stop" sign with the dentist: when you make a
certain gesture he or she will stop treatment and let you take a break
or ask questions. A simple strategy such as this can give a major boost
to your confidence and help you to relax.
Other things you can do
to relax while at the dentist include keeping your mind focused on
something more pleasant than your treatment. Consider listening to some
music, an audio book or a speech or lecture: your dentist should be
happy for you to take your iPod or music player in with you, and some
will be happy to play your music over speakers in the treatment room.
While
you're in the dentist's chair, you can also use mental exercises or
games to take your attention off your treatment. You can also make
plans, think of something to reward yourself after your appointment, or
just think about some of your happy memories (or ways to create new
ones!) You can even set yourself physical challenges to do, like trying
to wriggle each of your toes individually! Before you go to the dentist,
try to think of some ways you can channel your attention onto something
that will help you to relax.
A few other ideas to help you relax:
- Find organisations that specialise in helping people with phobias (ask your doctor and check local healthcare websites)
- Consider hypnosis to help you get over your fears: for some people the results can be incredibly powerful
- Take a friend with you to the dentists
- Eat something before you go so you don't feel faint during treatment
Whatever
you decide to do, the best way to get over your fear of the dentist
long term is first to accept that dental care by a skilled dentist is
essential to your overall health and well-being, and then to make dental
treatment almost unnecessary, so that you don't actually need anything
beyond the occasional check-up and cleaning. Take good care of your
teeth by brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss regularly
and look after your general health. By doing so, you'll soon get into a
cycle where you see your dentist just twice a year for routine check-ups
that are over in just a few minutes and without any pain. When you get
to this stage, you'll be able to realise that visiting the dentist is no
longer a major cause of concern for you, and is actually just
"routine."
