Fear of the dentist (usually referred to as Odontophobia) is definitely more common than you might imagine. Visiting the dentist isn’t anything someone would willingly do. After all, getting poked and being stuck with your whole mouth wide open is definitely not an ideal scenario. However, the good thing is that dentists nowadays are trained to treat all the people with such fears. People with odontophobia are treated with techniques that are designed to minimize the fear and pain.
Although the fears of people affected by odontophobia are serious and real, it is important that they overcome them for the sake of their health. The first and foremost step in conquering your fear is talking to the dentist regarding your problem and forming a bond of trust between the two of you. The dentist requires knowing about the fear so that they can do whatever they can to assist you in feeling comfortable. Ideally, the dentist should explain all the procedures before they start working so that you understand every aspect of the process and resultantly feel comfortable.
In case you are uncontrollably anxious, you should ask the dentist if they can provide you any medicines such as sedatives or nitrous oxide to keep you calm. Even a few of the anti-inflammatory medicines available over the counter can assist you in being relaxed before the visit, but you should make sure that you tell the dentist about any medicines you’ve ingested prior to the visit. A qualified dentist might have a few relaxation methods that you can try prior to the start of your appointment. Another good strategy to manage the anxiety at your dentist’s office is to schedule the appointment before your day begins (i.e. in the morning). At this time you will be more composed and not caught up in the stress that the day brings.
Prior to the procedure, you should talk to the dentist about any stop signal they should look from you while during the procedure. You need to form an agreement that the dentist will stop every time they see the signal both of you agreed upon. Also ask them if it would be alright to bring a family member or friend to your appointment. This will help you feel more comfortable with a companion there to support you.
Try to make sure that the first appointment you schedule with the dentist is short and only cleaning is the focus. This will help you take it slow and be more acquainted with the dentist, staff, and office before you set out for any complicated procedures. It’s all about going slow and overcoming your fear in a step-by-step manner.
