Dental phobia is extremely common.
It
is estimated that 75% of adults have dental phobia. There are a few
reasons why someone may be frightened of the dentist; past trauma,
developed fear from seeing their parents being scared and hearing horror
stories from others, fear of lack of control, embarrassment, and white
coat effect to name a few.
Fortunately, nowadays most dentists are specially trained in handling
fearful patients. A variety of methods and treatments are available to
reduce pain and alleviate fear in the dentist’s chair.
Here are a few tips and tricks to help you feel more relaxed:
• Find the right dentist for you. Ask on the phone if they cater to nervous patients, ask to speak with the dentist if possible
• Go to the appointment with someone you trust, having someone there to
support you and lend a hand to hold can make you feel more comfortable
• Speak to your dentist about your fears, ask for a cue, for example
agree that you will raise your left hand if you need the dentist to stop
• Bring headphones to listen to your own music to help distract you from the situation
• Try relaxation and breathing techniques, maybe even try hypnosis
• Speak to a therapist
We are all friendly and welcoming at Spit Road and try to make every patient feel as comfortable as possible.
Don’t be afraid to come see us, we are not as scary as we look!
Ian, the Mosman dentist. Dentist Mosman.
Image:Pixabay
