Wheelchairs: Mobility Options for You

Three Ways To Help Overcome Your Dental Phobia

When you're an adult, it can be easy to feel a little sheepish if you haven't visited the dentist in a long time because of a phobia. You might feel better knowing that you're not alone. Between 9 and 15 percent of the U.S. population skips dental checkups because of anxiety. Although it might be easy to simply just ignore the idea of going to the dentist, the reality is that proper dental health relies on regular checkups. You'll greatly improve your oral health if you visit the dentist regularly. Need some help overcoming your obstacle of phobia? Here are three ways to accomplish your goal.

Ask About Sedation Dentistry

One of the best ways to get through the anxiety you might experience while sitting in the dentist's chair is to be sedated throughout your appointment. Sedation dentistry is an option at many clinics and there are several choices for people based on the degree of sedation they wish to experience. Milder forms can just leave you feeling relaxed and tired during the checkup; stronger forms can help you sleep throughout the entire checkup. It's beneficial to know that these options are available for patients with dental phobia, so call your local clinic to ensure that it offers sedation dentistry.

Speak About Your Concerns

Some adults can find themselves trying to ignore their worries, but the issues that bother them can often seem worse through this strategy. Given the percentage of the population that deals with dental phobia to some degree, your dentist has almost certainly treated patients who were highly anxious. As such, share your concerns with the dentist right away. Dentists are trained in helping patients through their anxiety and you can often find that your concerns—such as a procedure causing you pain—might not be legitimate. Be as specific as possible about why you're anxious and your dentist will do his or her best to help you.

Find A Relaxing Activity

One of the challenges of dental phobia is that you can feel increasingly anxious as your dental checkup approaches. This means that by the time you're in the waiting room, you're extremely worked up. Combat these feelings by focusing on finding a relaxing activity to perform before the appointment. Taking a walk, trying some meditation or scheduling a massage can all help you to feel relaxed and can help to take your mind off your anxiety.

Contact a local dental office, such as Family Dental Care, for more advice on combating dental anxiety.


Share