If you feel uneasy or even afraid of visiting the dentist, you're hardly alone. Studies have shown that over 1/3 of Americans have a fear of dentists, and around 12% call it an "extreme" fear. For some people, this fear goes so far that it prevents them from even visiting a dentist - and that's bad news, because your oral health is so important to your overall body health.
We know that few people truly enjoy visiting the dentist, but you shouldn't let fears ruin your smile. Here are a few tips to help get over your fear, and get the dental treatments you need to live a good life!
Four Tricks For Overcoming A Fear Of The Dentist
1 - Communicate and ask questions
Dentists are good communicators, and are happy to answer any questions you have, or calm your fears. Often, just talking over procedures with your dentist can do a lot to improve your state of mind. Don't let your imagination run away with you; you'll feel better when you get facts from the experts.
2 - Avoid (too much) caffeine or sugar before you visit
Stimulants like sugar and caffeine have a side effect of making fear and anxiety worse. We know some of you need your morning coffee, but don't overdo it. It's much easier to remain calm at the dentist if your body isn't full of chemicals that make you jittery.
3 - Bring music or other distractions
Most dentists are happy to accommodate anything you bring in to distract yourself during procedures, as long as it doesn't get in the way of your mouth. If you want to bring music to listen to, with headphones, or movies to watch on your smartphone, that's almost always fine. Some dentists even offer devices like VR goggles so you can watch movies while completely blocking off the sight of the clinic.
4 - Ask about sedation options
If you truly don't think you can sit through a full session, the dentist may be willing to provide sedatives - like a dose of nitrous oxide - to make things easier. This will depend entirely on the dentist, though, as well as the procedure being conducted. Still, it's worth asking if you can't find anything else that works.
Plus, more than anything, familiarity can help you get over your fear of dentists. Making that first appointment is often the hardest part, and it gets easier from there.
If it's been too long since your last dental checkup, call your Plainsboro Dental Care, your friendly local dentist for an appointment at 609-799-4422.