Dental Phobia
We all know that taking care of our teeth is important and so it is essential that you see your dentist for frequent check ups and to make sure that your teeth are kept in optimum health. However, for a lot of people visiting the dentist is a source of fear and anxiety, they are dental phobic.
The reasons for anxiety differ from person to person. You maybe nervous about a specific treatment, or dislike being so close to someone that you do not know well. Many people might have had an unpleasant or painful experience as a child and be fearful of this happening again. The degree of nerves experienced can also vary from slight anxiety and apprehension about seeing the dentist to full on panic attacks. However, with the right surgery and dentist, there is always a way to overcome these fears.
The first step to overcoming this is to contact a dentist to discuss your fear, many dentists are now specialising in helping people overcome such fears and have a patient and sensitive approach to the matter to put you at ease. However, in extreme cases even discussing this with a dentist may be a source of anxiety and panic, in which case you should talk to your GP.
Some people feel more comfortable having treatment in a sedated manner. This will relax you but not put you to sleep and you will not remember a lot about the experience. There are two main forms of sedation that Dentists use. Inhaled sedation - otherwise called 'gas and air' this is a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen and is applied by putting a mask over your face which you then inhale from. The results quickly disappear after the mask is removed and a few deep breathes are taken. The other form of sedation is intravenous sedation. In this circumstance the sedative drug is injected through a cannula into the vein on your hand. This method of sedation is very effective but will mean that you need someone to take you home afterwards as you wont be able to drive. The chances of remembering the dental work are very small!
It is also possible to get psychological help or counselling which may help you come to terms with, and deal with, your fears. Certain techniques can be taught to help you with this.