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Do you feel anxious before your visit to the dentist or find yourself feeling sick to your stomach? If you are one of the many people who fear going to the dentist to the point that dental care is avoided, there are now techniques to help you overcome your fears. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, up to 40 million Americans do not go to the dentist as often as they should because of fear and anxiety. However, if you avoid going to the dentist, you may spend more time in the dental chair if problems that could have been prevented reach a stage where treatment is the only option. Even though dental anxiety can be deep-rooted, you and your dentist have the tools to make each visit a positive one. What is Dental Anxiety? Sometimes, a person's fear of going to the dentist or undergoing dental procedures can be so severe that they may lose sleep at night and worry excessively about what might happen at the dentist's office. People are anxious about going to the dentist to receive treatment for various reasons. Past experiences shared by family and friends are top sources of anxiety for patients. Other factors that contribute to dental anxiety include: • Feeling like the dentist is rushed or is neglecting your concerns
• Anxiety about the effectiveness of local anesthetic
• Anticipation of pain
• Sterile smell of the dentist's office
• Interrupting the normal day's routine
• For children, the first visit is a journey into the unknown You are not alone if you fear going to the dentist. A survey performed by the American Association of Endodontists found that 80 percent of adult Americans fear the dentist. More than half of these adults say that their fear is enough to keep them from visiting their dentist for proper dental procedures. Women and children report more dental anxieties than men and the elderly.
Strategies for Addressing your Dental Anxiety It is proven that communication is a crucial factor for relieving dental anxiety and phobia. Openly express your concerns with your dentist, as this will allow them to adapt the treatment to your personal needs. There are several psychological and behavioral approaches for addressing dental anxiety, which include: • Realize that others share your fears and are ready to help you overcome them.
• Identify your fears and educate yourself about realistic and unrealistic expectations, possible treatment options and what they involve.
• Choose a dental team with the technology, tools and skills that make you feel safe and well cared for.
• Before your dental appointment, practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing. When you establish trust with your dentist and stay informed about your treatments, you can help control and reduce your dental anxiety. Another option is to even use hand signals to communicate with your dentist throughout a procedure, which will make you feel that you are more in charge of your anxieties. Your dentist is always available and willing to help in the reduction of your dental anxieties. With proper communication, you and your cosmetic dentist in Gilbert can come to an effective solution to bring your anxieties down. There are many safe and comfortable techniques available for making dental care more acceptable for those who have anxieties, including the use of medication.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading dentist in Gilbert, Dr. Morteza Zamani. With a strong interest in the advancement of dental research, Dr. Zamani completed five years of research and has advanced training in multiple areas of dentistry to provide the best in quality dental health care, including implants in Gilbert.
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