Many of us have some fear or discomfort about going to the dentist. Although its normal to think of a child having an irrational fear of the dentist, many adults still cope with these fears as they struggle to maintain their oral health. Dentists use many specific approaches to help both adults and children face their phobias and have the most pleasant experience possible.
If you have fears and apprehensions about visiting the dentist, its a good idea to find someone who takes those fears into consideration. There are many things you can do on your own, as well, to make the experience of visiting a dentist much more comfortable.
Dentists Practices for Coping With Patient Fears
Dentists use many different techniques to calm the apprehensions and irrational fears of patients young and old. If you meet with a dentist and do not get the feeling that he or she tries to use these techniques, its probably not a good sign.
These are a few of the most common methods that dentists use to keep their patients calm:
- Comforting body language
- Direct interaction with patients
- Frequent breaks during tough procedures
- Non-threatening language
- Positive comments
- Rehearsal/desensitization
- Telling before doing
- Use of humor (sometimes works, sometimes does not)
Environment is Key
It is just as important to choose a dental office with a positive, calming environment as it is to choose a dentist you trust and with whom you feel comfortable. Your interactions with the staff, the attire they wear, the smells of the office, the colors of the walls, the air temperature, the music playing and the distractions offered at the office are all important factors to your overall comfort. These distractions could be anything from posters to movies that play during procedures to your favorite station playing on the radio.
What You Can Do
Before visiting your dentist, its a good idea to read up on relaxation techniques to help you conquer your fears. These could include breathing from deep within your belly to help you relax before walking into the dentists office, or practicing meditation the night before to put your mind at ease. You can also practice cognitive restructuring to put your fears into a more realistic context. Whatever you do, just dont let your fears keep you from the dentist for too long, or an even worse fate may be in store.
