How to Overcome Fear of the Dentist
Fear of the dentist is extremely common and, the rate of dentist anxiety is very high worldwide. Moreover, people of all ages experience this phobia.
The severity of the fear of visiting the dentist also varies from person to person. Some patients feel uncomfortable when they hear the word "dentist". Some patients are triggered only when dental surgeries are on the table, while others may be afraid of relatively easy and short-term procedures such as teeth cleaning and bleaching.
Unfortunately, the consequences of this can be serious. Problems that would have been corrected in a short time if they had been intervened in time may take longer time due to the delay. Consequences such as tooth loss can also occur.
Why are People Afraid of the Dentist?
The medical term dentophobia, known as fear of the dentist, has varying causes. The reasons can also be effective on the severity of the level of fear. There are various resources available on the subject. Case examples and patient comments are an important basis at this point. The prominent reasons for fear of the dentist are as follows:
- Traumas caused by past dentist experiences,
- General dislike of being in the hospital or clinic environment,
- Being disturbed by the sound of medical instruments,
- Not being able to get rid of the thought that he/she will experience intense pain,
- Worrying that something will go wrong,
- Fear of getting anesthesia,
- The irrational effect of what is heard in childhood and adolescence.
Dentists and clinics are the two most important factors that cause dental fear but also help to overcome this fear. If you've been to the dentist before and you've been greeted with a cold, unpleasant attitude, you know what we mean. It is common for a patient to develop a fear of the dentist simply because of a specific experience with an untalented dentist.
In addition, poor treatment service, unsuccessful operation trauma… These are not pleasant experiences, but not all processes will continue like this. It should be noted that there are many more applications performed in a modern, hygienic clinical environment with talented and experienced dentists. If you are looking for a reliable, success- and patient-satisfaction-oriented dentist, we suggest you research Okutan Clinic and visit if you have time. Postponing dental problems will have negative consequences in the short and long term.
What Are the Negative Factors of Fear of the Dentist?
First, let us remind you that it is perfectly normal to have anxiety about going to the dentist. Many people feel this type of mood in many branches of medicine.
If you are delaying your recovery due to anxiety or delaying treatment even though you have a toothache, for example, you need to rethink. If the level of anxiety, which can be healthy under normal conditions, has turned into intense fear when it comes to the dentist, you may be experiencing dentophobia.
Negative consequences of dental anxiety:
When dental treatment is delayed, problems such as severe pain, bleeding and numbness occur.
- The problem that can be solved with timely treatment may grow and the possibilities for solution may decrease. Accordingly, the treatment process may be prolonged or difficult.
- Quality of life decreases. The person may have to deal with the thought that they are not taking good care of themselves.
- Oral and dental health are put at risk as a result of not going to regular dental check-ups.
Tricks for Overcoming Dental Anxiety
Fearing the dentist does no one any good. It is possible to overcome this problem. Of course, this will have various difficulties in itself, so it will be useful to listen to the experts on the subject and take the necessary actions. Here are some tips for overcoming your fear of the dentist:
- You will be evaluating the dentist and the clinic or hospital, keep in mind that if you don't like it, you can leave at any time.
- If you are in a stressful emotional state, practice your methods of calming yourself. It is good to breathe deeply, focus on the good, and concentrate on how the result will satisfy you.
- Be honest with your dentist and tell him you have a dentist phobia. A good dentist has experience in this aspect and will help and support you both in terms of suggestions and explanations.
- If you are developing anxiety because you are going through a process that you cannot control, you can ask your dentist to explain all the processes to you in detail.
- If you are worried about what to do if the treatment period is long, you can talk to your doctor and ask him/her if you have a chance to take a break with short breaks if it will take a long time.
- If the dental instruments intimidate you, remind yourself that all medical equipment in the clinic serves the purpose of healing you.
Thanks to the developing dentistry technologies, many dental surgeries and applications are performed comfortably and without pain. Orthodontics, maxillofacial surgery, and dentistry laser applications are just a few of them. Root canal treatment, wisdom tooth treatment, and implant, which may have been more challenging in the past, are now fixed much more effectively and painlessly.
You can start with regular dental check-ups. Routine dentist visits are of great importance in terms of oral and dental health. Of course, oral hygiene comes first. Okutan Diş is waiting for you with its friendly healthcare professionals, trained dentists, and its clinical layout powered by the latest technology.
