Dental anxiety and fear are so common that it stops lots of people from receiving preventative dental treatments every year. Overcoming your phobias is really important to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Consulting with a friendly and understanding dentist may help you to relax in the chair, but how do you take the first steps and get to the practice? Today we are going to help you with a step by step guide on how to get over fear of the dentist.
Dental Fear: What’s It Really About?
According to the stats, as many as one in six children and one in ten adults has dental anxiety. On its own, anxiety isn’t that harmful, but if it is stopping you from getting dental treatment, it is problematic for your oral health and needs to be addressed.
What Causes Dental Fear?
There are as many causes of dental anxiety as there are patients, and each person’s anxiety is shaped by their life experiences. Some of the most common causes we have encountered include
- Trauma is a major cause of anxiety. Abuse, trauma to the neck and head or trauma sustained during a previous dental treatment can all take their toll on your perception of dentists
- Mental health illnesses such as depression, generalised anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorders can contribute
- Fear of needles
- Fear of medical environments
How To Get Over Fear Of Dentist?
Face Your Dental Fear Head-On
Sometimes you just have to go through with something in order to prove to yourself that there wasn’t something to fear, particularly if there wasn’t an adverse event that contributed to your dental anxiety. Having your dental treatment go well and experiencing a positive experience can reframe your perceptions
Meditation And Deep Breathing Techniques
Deep breathing and relaxing techniques like meditation can help you to shift out of a panicked state and into a more peaceful frame of mind during a dental procedure.
Visual And Auditory Distractions
Watching peaceful, slow-moving visuals or listening to calming music can distract you during a dental procedure.
Dental anxiety and fear are so common that it stops lots of people from receiving preventative dental treatments every year. Overcoming your phobias is really important to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Consulting with a friendly and understanding dentist may help you to relax in the chair, but how do you take the first steps and get to the practice? Today we are going to help you with a step by step guide on how to get over fear of the dentist.
Consider Sedation
If you aren’t quite ready to face your fears, sedation is one way to get your dental treatment done. There are different options to discuss with your dentist and they may include
- Medication to treat your anxiety
- Happy gas or nitrous oxide, to put you in a relaxed state during the procedure
- Conscious sedation
- Anaesthesia if you do not want to be awake for your procedure.
Not addressing dental fear can put you in a cycle because not treating dental problems as they arise means that your procedure can be more complex and more traumatic if you avoid it for long enough, compounding your anxiety. Having timeous treatments means your dental procedures are quicker and simpler to complete, and there is less to be fearful about.
Speaking to one of our warm and friendly staff is the first step in how to get over fear of the dentist, so please give us a call and let us put your mind at ease: (03) 5749 1208
References
Dental anxiety and phobia
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dental-anxiety-and-phobia
Facing your fear: how to manage dental anxiety
https://www.bupadental.com.au/blog/prevention/facing-your-fear-how-to-manage-dental-anxiety
