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Dentist Anxiety – Overcoming Your Fears

Dentist anxiety – or dental phobia – can involve irrational feelings of fear and anxiety when visiting the dentist. This can stem from irrational fears about the dentist, and most people tend to associate the dentist with pain, making it…

Dentist anxiety – or dental phobia – can involve irrational feelings of fear and anxiety when visiting the dentist. This can stem from irrational fears about the dentist, and most people tend to associate the dentist with pain, making it difficult for people – especially children – to visit the dentist. However, there are ways of overcoming this fear, to ensure that your dental visits are regular and that oral care is maintained. Because of this irrational fear, people tend to skip out on dental visits, putting their oral care at risk. It is essential to maintain one’s teeth and gums and have regular check-ups with a good dentist to ensure that everything is perfect.

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One of the main causes of dental anxiety is that the patient might have had painful experiences with the dentist or may have had friends or family members have painful experiences. This can lead to a phobia being developed about future visits to the dentist. One way to fix this is by speaking to the dentist about your fear so that he or she will be able to calm you down and explain the procedure to you to know what is happening during your visit.

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Another cause is post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Those who suffer from PTSD, or other anxiety disorders, tend to find several stressful and anxiety-ridden; this can include visits to the dentist. Therefore, their fears are not specific to the dentist but are more general in nature. However, there are ways to help these patients, including performing certain rituals that calm the patient down – like deep breathing exercises, for example.
Another cause can be an abusive past. Those with an abusive history can associate similar fears with other authoritative figures, including the dentist. While the dentist is in charge, they may have flashbacks or triggering episodes, resulting in the patient developing a debilitating fear towards the dentist. One way to help this problem is by allowing the patient to retain control, y explaining the procedure as they go along, or going with the patient’s pace to establish trust between the patient and the dentist.

While looking for the right dentist, ensure that you visit the clinic and speak to the dentist before booking an appointment. You will be able to explain your situation so that you and your dentist will explore possible solutions together. Furthermore, your dentist must make you feel calm and comfortable, especially during a risky procedure.

Another solution can include sedation. If you feel that you are unable to sit through the procedure without feeling panicky or anxious, you can request the dentist to sedate you – this involves numbing the nerve endings in your jaw to not feel any pain. If you wish to, the dentist can put you to sleep, so you will not have to be awake and experience the procedure.

Carol Waldman Dentistry is a dental clinic located in Ontario, in Canada, and is led by Dr. Carol Waldman. Dr. Waldman earned her DDS from the University of Toronto in 1982 and has continued in the stream of cosmetic dentistry. The dentists at Carol Waldman Dentistry are known for their friendliness and professionalism, making them extremely easy to approach. Furthermore, they are extremely willing to cater to any specific needs or demands you may have to ensure that you remain as comfortable as possible during the procedure.

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