Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Understanding your fear better
• Part 2 of 3: Finding a dentist
• Part 3 of 3: Dealing with your fear during treatment
• Tips

Going to the dentist can literally be an agony for some people. A large part of the population is afraid of the dentist. If you have dental phobia or avoid the dentist altogether, you can overcome your fear by facing it and having positive experiences with your dentist.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Understanding your fear better

1. Know that fear of the dentist is normal. You don't have to be ashamed of your fear. Many people share the same phobia. However, it shouldn't stop you from taking good care of your teeth, as it can have major consequences for your health and social contacts.
   • Most guidelines prescribe going to the dentist twice a year to keep your mouth healthy.
   • Not going to the dentist regularly can lead to cavities, inflammation, broken or missing teeth and bad breath. Some of these problems can damage your social life.
2. Write down exactly what you are afraid of. Some people prefer not to admit that they have dental phobia. To overcome your fear, make a list of all the things that make you fear the dentist.
   • You may not even be aware of your particular fear (s) until you think about it carefully. You may realize that it is not even the treatment you fear, but the dentist himself. You can easily get rid of this fear just by looking for a new dentist.
   • Take this list with you to the dentist and discuss your fears with him / her. He / she can probably give you a rational explanation for the cause of your fears.
3. Find the cause of the fear. Anxiety often stems from an experience or memory. Identifying the source of your dental phobia will make it easier for you to take steps to overcome the fear of the dentist.
   • Thinking about a specific experience that contributed to the fear of the dentist and trying to match it with positive experiences can put you in the right frame of mind to overcome your phobia. For example, if you've had a really painful root canal treatment once, think about the times your dentist complimented you for taking such good care of your teeth, or think about a treatment that didn't make you feel at all, so you could ease your anxiety. set aside.
   • If you can't recall a specific experience that could be the source of your anxiety, it might be because of a memory or social anxiety, such as horror stories about the dentist from family or friends.
   • As you think about the cause of your dental phobia, you can gradually try to overcome the fear. To overcome your fears, you may just need to acknowledge them.
4. Know that treatments have gotten better and better. Before you take concrete steps and go to the dentist, it is important to know that dental treatments have gotten better and better in recent years. Fortunately, the time of the medieval drill and large anesthetic needles is over. If you know that a lot has changed, your fear may diminish.
   • There are all kinds of new methods for solving problems such as cavities. For example, some dentists have a drill where you can press a button if he / she has to stop for a moment, and there are even laser methods to drill out the hole.
   • Many dentists ensure that their practice is less clinical, with softer colors, and without the typical odor that always hung in the dentist's past.

Part 2 of 3: Finding a dentist

1. Find the right dentist. Your dentist can set the tone for the entire visit. If he / she is not warm and inviting, and is acting quite aloof, it can reinforce the anxiety you have. It is very important to find the right dentist if you want to overcome your fear.
   • The best way to find a good dentist is to ask for recommendations from friends or family. Others are not likely to recommend a dentist that they are not satisfied with.
   • You can also search for reviews on the internet.
2. Make an appointment with potential new dentists. Make an appointment with multiple dentists so you can choose the right one. By meeting dentists and talking about your oral health and your fears, you can find out who you are comfortable with.
   • Ask the dentists questions and tell them you are scared. If you take the list of specific fears with you, you can be sure that you don't forget anything.
   • Make sure the dentist takes you and your fears seriously. Don't accept it if your fear is dismissed, as this can actually make the phobia worse, and it could indicate that the dentist is not very nice or sympathetic.
3. Make appointments for treatment. Once you find a dentist you feel comfortable with, make a few appointments. Start with simple treatments such as cleaning and build up to more serious procedures such as root canal or crown placement as needed.
   • This way you can build a relationship of trust with your dentist.
4. Agree with your dentist that you can stop the treatment to relax if you do not like something.
   • The more times you have been to the dentist and have had positive experiences, the more likely you will be able to sustain regular checkups and get over your phobia.
   • Make appointments at times when it is unlikely that you will have to wait long in the waiting room. This can be done, for example, by being the first patient of the day.

Part 3 of 3: Dealing with your fear during treatment

1. Communicate with your dentist. Effective communication is the foundation of any relationship between patient and physician. Talking to your dentist before, during, and after treatment can help limit your anxiety.
   • Before the treatment, discuss anything you fear with your dentist. You may also want him / her to tell you exactly how the procedure will proceed in advance.
   • Ask your dentist to also keep you informed of what he / she is doing during the treatment. Remember you have the right to know what is happening.
2. Make a script for treatments you fear. If you try to overcome a fear, you can sometimes lose faith and start avoiding a situation. By using the “scripting” tactic for your appointment, you can deal with situations that you find scary to learn and minimize your fear of the dentist.
   • Scripting is a technique in which you write a plan of action, or a "script" for a certain situation, to which you adhere. For example, if you're worried about tartar removal, take notes and develop a plan that gives you more control over the situation. Think about what you can say in response to questions or unforeseen problems that may arise during the appointment.
3. Formulate dental treatments in simple terms. If you are afraid of a specific treatment, you can rephrase it in simple terms. Reformulation is a behavioral technique that allows you to transform how you feel or think about certain situations by making them seem everyday or banal.
   • If you are worried about getting your teeth cleaned, you can rephrase it as "this is a quick procedure similar to brushing my teeth."
   • By working with smaller and more manageable units you can overcome your fear.
4. Apply relaxation techniques. Relaxing can make the experience a lot more enjoyable and make you less anxious. There are many different relaxation techniques, from deep breathing to medication, that can help you address your dental phobia.
   • Many dentists recommend intoxication, nitrous oxide, or anti-anxiety drugs such as alprazolam to help you relax during your visit.
   • Some dentists prescribe anti-anxiety drugs that you can take before your visit if you are very nervous.
   • If you are taking anti-anxiety drugs that are not prescribed by your dentist, let them know that you are taking them before he / she starts treatment so that you can be sure that it is not dangerous for him / she to administer other medications.
   • Note that the use of these drugs can make the treatment a bit more expensive and that your insurance may not cover it.
   • Try breathing exercises to relax. You can inhale rhythmically and count to four as you inhale and exhale. If it helps, you can repeat the words "let" when you breathe in and "let go" when you breathe out in your head so that you think about the fear as little as possible.
   • If necessary, you can combine different relaxation techniques.
5. Distract yourself with different media. You can use all kinds of different media to distract yourself during your visit to the dentist. You can listen to music, or watch TV if your dentist has it, so you can relax and reduce your anxiety.
   • Many dentists nowadays have MP3 players or TVs so that he / she can provide distraction to the patient.
   • If your dentist doesn't, ask if you can listen to quiet music or read a book during the appointment.
   • You can also use a stress ball to distract yourself and relax during the appointment.
   • You can also listen to soothing music right before the appointment, or watch a funny video so that you associate the dentist with calmness, making it easier to overcome your fears.
6. Bring a friend or family member to your appointment. Consider bringing a friend or family member to keep you company. He / she can distract you from the treatment and may calm you down.
   • If you are extremely scared, ask the dentist if your friend can come along in the treatment room. Knowing that there is someone with you who you trust may help you relax.
7. Prevent serious problems by going to the dentist regularly. Many people fear the dentist because of complicated and often painful treatments such as root canal treatment. But having regular checkups and having your teeth cleaned will not only help you overcome your fear, but also avoid serious problems with your teeth.
   • Also take good care of your teeth on a daily basis to reduce the risk of complicated treatments. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day and using floss or toothpicks will help you avoid a lot of problems.
   • The more often you go through checkups where nothing is wrong, the faster you will overcome your fear of the dentist.
8. Reward yourself when it went well. After an appointment, reward yourself with something you want or enjoy doing. Then you start to associate the dentist with reward, instead of fear.
   • For example, you can buy a nice T-shirt or a pair of shoes because you went to the dentist.
   • Or you can do something fun, such as visit a museum or go to the sauna.
   • Do not reward yourself with sweets, because you can get cavities and you will have to go to the dentist more often.

Tips

• Stay positive. Remember to go to the dentist to keep your teeth healthy, not to scare yourself.
• Make sure you are calm and relaxed when you go to the dentist. Let the dentist do what he / she needs to do. In the end, you go out with clean teeth and no cavities. Your dentist shouldn't scare you.