The options dentists are now offering patients with dental phobia to help overcome their fears.
Article Source: HealthSnare.com
Dental phobia affects a significant proportion of the population to some degree; most people experience mild anxiety when going to the dentist but some develop severe anxiety and avoid going to see their dentist as a result.
Causes of dental phobia
Dental phobia may be caused by several different factors including past experiences, word of mouth and a fear of needles or pain. Many people are worried about going to the dentist because of horror stories friends or colleagues have told them or tales they have seen in weekly magazines or newspapers. Dental anxiety often stems from negative experiences in the past; some people may have had a bad relationship with their dentist or experienced a particularly traumatic or painful procedure, for example.
Many people suffer from a fear of pain; this is not surprising, as very few people actually enjoy experiencing pain. A phobia of needles is also very common, as needles and injections are commonly associated with pain. Some people also dislike the feeling of having metal instruments in their mouth and this can make them reluctant to go to the dentist.
Avoiding necessary trips to the dentist
Avoiding the dentist can also be a result of embarrassment; this is particularly common if the patient hasn't been to the dentist for a long time. Patients sometimes assume the worst and expect to be told that their teeth are in a terrible state and they need extensive treatment; however, this is often not the case and all the anxiety and dread was for nothing.
As dental anxiety and dental phobias are so common, most dentists are now trained to deal with nervous patients; this helps them to be able to make them feel more relaxed and at ease when they come for appointments and also offers some comfort for the patients.
For patients who have mild anxiety, reassurance and distraction can often make them feel calmer; many dental surgeries are kitted out with gadgets to make patients feel at ease and distract their attention from the actual procedure; many dentists use DVDs, music and magazines to distract their patients. Patients can now sit back and watch their favourite films while they have treatment, which helps to make the procedure a lot less daunting.
Help available
For patients with very severe anxiety and those with a fear of pain, dentists may offer sedatives to prevent them from feeling pain and calm them down. For people who cannot tolerate needles, alternative remedies are available including oral sedatives and sedatives which you can inhale.
For patients with extremely severe phobias who cannot bring themselves to visit the dentist, other therapies may be recommended. In many cases, therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling may be recommended to determine the root cause of the phobia and try to find ways to work through the anxiety and find an effective way of coping.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy has also been proven to be effective in dealing with phobias and extreme anxiety; a number of dental patients have reported a significant improvement in their condition following a course of hypnotherapy. Acupuncture has also been recommended by dental patients and some dental practices have even started offering acupuncture as a therapy for nervous patients; trials show that acupuncture can make patients feel less nervous and more relaxed, which helps them during their treatment.
Dental anxiety is very common but most people only suffer from mild anxiety and can cope with going to the dentist, albeit with a degree of trepidation; however, some cases are very severe and require more intensive treatment. It is important that patients realise the importance of attending regular check-ups with their dentist, so seeking help for dental phobia is highly recommended. If you suffer from dental phobia, you should talk to your GP or dentist about getting some help.
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Daniel Scotland
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Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2010 Time: 4:19 AM
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