3. Odontophobia or fear of the dentist is more common than
some people can imagine. Going to the dentist is not
something any one would choose to do. Being poked and
stuck with your mouth wide open isn't exactly a great way
to spend a Saturday afternoon, but modern
Edmonton Dentists are trained to treat people with this fear
and treat them with techniques designed to minimize pain
and fear. Although the fear of those effected by
odontophobia are real and serious, it is necessary to
overcome these fears for the sake of your health.
4. The first step in overcoming your fear of the dentist is
making an appointment with a dentist you trust and talking
to the dentist about your problem. The dentist needs to
know about your fear so that she can do everything she can
to help you feel comfortable. Your dentist can explain every
procedure before beginning work so that you are able to
under stand everything and feel more comfortable and in
control.
5. If you are extremely anxious, ask your dentist if they offer
any medications like nitrous oxide or sedatives to help calm
you. Even some over the counter anti-inflamatory
medications can help you relax, but make sure to tell your
dentist about any medication you have ingested before the
visit. Some dentists may have some relaxation methods you
can try before beginning the appointment like breath work
and music. Also scheduling your appointment in the
morning before the stress of the day has added up will help
you be able to better control your stress.
6. Before the procedure, talk to your dentist about a hand
signal or stop signal that she will look for while working on
your mouth. Agree that she will stop each time she sees the
agreed upon signal. Ask if it would be OK to bring a friend
or family member to the appointment, so you feel the
comfort of companionship.
7. If you visit the dentist regularly your visit time will be
reduced dramatically.. Waiting too long between
appointments will necessitate more work and longer visits
making you less likely to return. Scheduling regular
cleaning appointments ahead of time will give you less time
to think about making the appointment and will identify
preventable problems before they turn into serious ones.
Make sure that your first appointment with your dentist is a
short one for cleaning only so that you can go slow and get
more acquainted with the office, staff and dentist before
embarking on a more complicated procedure.
