How to overcome fear of the dentist

Regular dental checkups are vital to health. It is not just about making sure your teeth are in the best condition although that is very important too! When your dentist checks your gums they can also look for the signs of some conditions such as mouth cancer. Unfortunately a lot of people avoid dental appointments because they are scared and ironically avoiding these delayed or missed appointments can make their oral health suffer. This is why it is vital to learn how to overcome fear of the dentist.

You can divide coping techniques into these broad categories-

• Positive attitude
• Discussion
• Relaxation and tension relieving techniques
• Reward

A mixture of these techniques is often the best way and we will show you how to get the most from them in order to make going to the dentist a more pleasant experience.

Dentists are people too

One of the big problems is that films often depict dentists as villains. Even in comedies and cartoons they are still shown as cold, scary looking figures, even when this is done for comic effect. The first way to get over the fear is to remember that dentists are not faceless torturers. Often they are friendly and helpful people who do all they can to help their patients relax.

Another reason that people are often afraid is if they had a difficult time when they were a child. Admittedly this is also true of haircuts, accidents, dogs and any number of fears that are largely irrational. If you do have concerns it is worth discussing them with your dentist as they are often trained to deal with anxiety to make it easier for patients to get the treatment they need.

One way of doing this is to meet with your dentist before you are due to get a deep clean, root canal or check up. Knowing more about them and talking to them will remove that feeling of disconnection as you can have more faith in the person treating you.

Easing tension

An area where people often experience the most anxiety is the waiting room. Fortunately it can be quite simple to make this experience easier. Bringing your own books, music and so forth can allow you to feel a bit more comfortable. Some people use stress balls as a method of clearing their mind of anxiety but ultimately you need to find the method that works best for you.

Reward

One technique that people use in order to deflect negative associations with going to the dentist is to book something fun to do afterwards. If you have children this can be something like a trip to the park or going bowling. Focusing on something exciting that you will do afterwards can make it a lot easier to deal with the fear of the event itself.

A Positive Experience

Finally the best way to learn how to overcome your fear of the dentist is to not view it in negative terms. The dentist is just doing their job ensuring you have the best oral health. As with any service if you find the best ones they will ensure your teeth and gums are in the best possible condition and will do their utmost to make you feel better going out then you did coming in! Look online to find more information about dentists in your local area as well as more relaxation techniques and coping strategies.

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