23 Feb 2008 03:21:11 | Kerry Emrich
A fear of the dentist is common
Millions of people suffer from dental phobia. Most people who
find out that they are not alone are shocked to see how common
this phobia really is.
The fear of the dentist is a strong fear but is actually quite
harmless. Mature adults are often aware that there dental phobia
is irrational, but this fear is often hard to overcome when just
thinking about going to the dentist causes fear, anxiety, and
panic attacks. Study show numbers as high as 25% of the
population of North America suffers from fear of the dentist “A
fear, or phobia, traditionally defined as an irrational and
exaggerated fear of dentists and dental procedures. Some
controversy exists with regards to whether the fear is
"irrational", as dentist phobia is most commonly caused by
previous bad experiences. Furthermore, there appear to be
several subtypes of dental phobia, which to date have not been
adequately described and categorized, for example "fear of
dentists" versus "fear of specific dental procedures", needle
phobia, and dental phobia resulting from previous, perhaps
unrelated, abuse. Not all of these fears can be deemed
irrational. Dentist phobia may better be defined as an extreme
and persistent fear which results in the individual's avoidance
of attending a dentist at all costs, unless possibly when a
physical problem becomes overwhelming. “ Source: wikipedia It is
very common for people suffering from dental phobia to miss
their dental appointments. They will come up with any reason to
miss it, including mystery illnesses. The problem with this is
that without proper dental treatment the problem with your teeth
will only get worse. The fear of the dentist usually starts in
childhood, often from a dentist who may have accidentally hurt
the child, or from a visit to a dentist who is used to working
with adults only. It should not be forgotten that a fear of the
dentist plays in your mental and emotional states; it can affect
your business and your social life. What you can do to minimize
or eliminate a fear of the dentist
Look for dentists who specialize in treating people with anxiety
disorders. These dentists often approach their practice from a
physiological point of view. This may include relaxation or
visualization exercises for the patient.
Many dentists also help reduce patient fears through the use of
drugs. This is great for people who can not seem to get over
their fears. You simply go in sit down, take a pill and fall
asleep. When you wake up your dental work is done, and although
you may feel a little sleepy, you are ready to go home without
any stressful memories.
Talk to your dentist about your fears, they may not know that
you have them, there is nothing to be ashamed of. If this does
not help you are always free to shop around. I used to be afraid
of the dentist, and then I moved to a new city and found a new
dentist who I talked to about my fears. This dentist had worked
with many patients who have a fear of the dentist and he helped
me to fear safe and relaxed and actually enjoy my trip to the
dentist.
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