Fear of the Dentist: Overcoming It

A dentist is a professional medical doctor who focuses on the dental problems of the patient. Many people have some anxieties and fears when they are scheduled to visit their dental practitioner. These fears are often based on childhood experiences or stories that have implanted themselves on a person's mind. These are often irrational and can consume the person or the child. Other bases are thoughts that preempt the actual treatment. The thoughts can be based on the fear or anxiety of being hurt during the treatment or visit with the practitioner. Recently, more and more dentists have realized that they can actually help in easing the anxiety and nervousness that their patients might feel when they enter the clinic. The dentist usually makes the ambience of his or her receiving or waiting room more relaxing and not too clinical. Pediatric practitioners have playrooms, which associate their practice with the toys in there. In many cases, the practitioner also eases into the relationship between his patient and him by initially chatting amiably with the patient before doing a light check up on the oral cavity. The discussion can help the patient air his fears and anxieties so that the dental professional can reassure the patient. Patient Participation It is not just the dentist who should be ready for an anxious patient. The individual should also do something in order to be more at ease. One of the things that the person should initially do is to look for a dental professional whose aim is to have a good relationship with his patients. Many of these professionals encourage their patients to be more open towards them regarding their anxieties and nervousness. Recommendations from friends and relatives may be a good source for an understanding practitioner. A social visit to the clinic can also be a good way to feel at ease in the dental workplace. It is a good idea to be familiar with the clinic before even having a checkup or a light form of treatment. When it is time for a checkup, morning schedules may be a better idea to limit the time that the person has to fret over the prospect of a visit with a dentist. While waiting for the checkup, the individual can also listen to soothing music at the clinic. If the patient would like to bring a friend or relative whom he or she feels comfortable with to stay during the checkup, the dental professional needs to know this beforehand. It is highly likely that the practitioner will allow someone with the patient just to ease the first few visits. It is also a good thing to start with a cleaning or polish before going for the bigger and meaner sounding instruments since many patients feel nervous when these start whirring. Do not be afraid to set reasonable limits with your dentist. Before the start of the session, the individual might want to agree with the practitioner on a signal that means that the patient needs to stop or take a short break. These are just a few of the suggestions to having a better experience at the dental clinic.