How To Address Your Dentist Phobia

Though the choice to address your dentist phobia may be a scary thought in and of itself, it is one which can benefit you for years to come. Providing yourself with proper dental care will not only ensure that your smile is bright, beautiful and healthy, but it will also help you prevent more in depth dental work down the road. In this article, we will provide you with a few helpful hints to help you get over your fears and obtain the care you deserve.

Step 1 – The first step is research. Finding a dentist who can meet your individual needs is imperative to becoming comfortable and confident with your dental care. Take a peek at the yellow pages, talk to friends, family and co-workers, and peruse the internet. You want to locate a physician to is professionally skilled, but who is also patient, caring and committed to helping you alleviate your fears. If your first choice doesn’t work out the way you were hoping, try not to get discouraged. Pick yourself back up, and get back in the game until you find the dentist for you.

Step 2 – Educate yourself on how to breathe offensively instead of defensively. A great number dental care issues are caused by breath holding and hyperventilating. Both breathing styles only serve to make the patient even more tense. Practice offensive breathing by focusing on a solitary spot on your ceiling or wall. This will enable to you fixate on your breathing and help you feel more in control.

Step 3 – Find something to distract yourself from the things that make you anxious. If you’re one of the many people that are frightened by the sound of a drill, politely ask if you can use headphones during your appointment. If it’s the needle or the pressure caused by the drill, simply ask the dentist or assistant to divert your attention through conversation.

Step 4 – Prior to your procedure, make certain to ask your dentist to keep you numb throughout the appointment. If you begin feeling pain at any time during the procedure, speak up and let the physician know.

Step 5 – Come up with a “stop signal” to help you communicate with the physician and staff. For instance, if you want the physician to give the drilling a quick break, you could specify a raise from your left hand as a stop command. Being in control of the situation will help you feel more at ease and better able to deal with your fears.

Step 6 – Avoid getting drugged up before your appointments. While there are many dentists that prescribe anxiety medications to patients with dental phobias, it should never be a cure-all or long-term solution. Not only can these substances diminish your feeling of control, but they can also become habit forming.

By following the tips outlined above, you will be able to address your dental phobias while obtaining the quality care you deserve.