Dentists: Aren’t Anything To Be Afraid Of

Do you avoid going for oral checkups? Do you fear the 6-month window when your regular teeth cleaning is scheduled? Do you find any reason to cancel appointments with your dentist? For many people across the country and around the world, dentists strike fear into them and are more scary than snakes or spiders or heights.

Dentists are often not undeserving of their feared reputation. Many have bedside manners that are lacking common courtesy and care. Often their schedules are so busy that they have to rush patients in and out and don’t take the time to do a job carefully. Their manner and actions are fast and abrupt and can cause pain in delicate oral areas. Without even realizing they’re making you wince in terror, a dentist or oral hygienist may inadvertently and accidentally hit a sensitive nerve root. This experience will probably make you dislike the dentist and dread coming back.

Unfortunately, it is a bit of a catch-22. Those that dislike dentists and avoid their regular dental cleanings and checkups often end up requiring more extensive and painful dental work in the long run. Instead, if they would overcome their fear and visit the dentist more regularly, they could avoid costly and painful invasive oral surgery. As such, it would make sense to confront your fear of the dentists and attempt to overcome it by any means possible.

There are a variety of advances in technology that make visiting dentists much more comfortable. From TVs on the ceiling to radio piped in through headphones, there are options that can get your mind off your mouth. There are also many medical advances that enable the patient to be comfortably sedated throughout the procedure. Oral or IV medications are delivered at the start of the visit. Often they are so calming and effective that the patient doesn’t even remember the visit when it’s over and they wake up. Some offices even offer neck or shoulder massages, aromatherapy and other amenities borrowed with the local spa in mind. Now that probably sounds like the ideal visit to the dentist for some people!

In short, going to dentists should not be a painful or dreaded ordeal. The oral hygiene office has advanced substantially in the last few years and this visit will probably be very different from your negative or traumatic experience.

Contact a few dentists in your area today and arrange for a trial run or meet and greet visit. He or she should be able to make you feel at ease and answer any concerns you may have. Friends and family are often good resources for dental referrals. Find out who your friends go to and why they like that particular health professional. Take your time to do your research and the benefits will pay off in the long run. You will establish a healthy relationship with pain-free and worry-free oral healthy and hygiene for years to come.