subject: Fearing The Dentist Office [print this page] Fear of the dentist is all too common of an experience for too many Americans. This fear is not only rooted in the past, but the pain.
This fear is sometimes so great that it keeps people from making the necessary trips to the dentist's office, even when they are experiencing severe, constant pain. As time passes, these symptoms get worse and worse.
This could result in the development of gum disease. Gum disease is not restricted to the mouth, but can spread to other parts of the body as well.
Studies have shown that gum disease can be the cause of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. As a result, training in treating fearful patients has become part of every dentist's training.
Statistic report that between five and eight percent of Americans do not visit the dentist when they should simply because of fear. In addition, twenty percent of Americans will only visit the dentist when they absolutely need to.
Studies have shown that sixty percent of these people fear the dentist because of a bad past experience. The other thirty percent have a fear of the dentist because of another experience that is brought to mind during the visit.
These other experiences or feelings may include mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress of war, victims or domestic violence, and victims of childhood sexual abuse. This has lead researchers to believe that the fear of dentists is not caused by the related pain.
They have concluded that the fear of the dentist office is related to the lack of control people feel while they are there. When a person visits the dentist, they are lying down, cannot talk, cannot respond, and there is someone standing over you will various instruments.
The biggest mistake of dentists in causing more fearful patients is that they assume that all patients have the same pain threshold. Researchers believe that if dentists were more sensitive to varying levels of pains and took the extra time to be careful and make sure their patients were comfortable, a much smaller percentage of people would fear the dentist.
However, on the other side, a patient who is experiencing fear and anxiety should discuss their feelings with the dentist. The dentist can then take extra precautions to make sure that they are treated well.
Patients who experience a very high level of pain may want to find a dentist that specializes in treating fearful patients. There are many of them out there who work to put the patient first and make sure they are comfortable.
They also try very hard to reduce any element of the process that may appear threatening. These dentists also try to make sure the patient knows they are in control through a variety of methods.
For example, one dentist may make sure that each patient thoroughly understands that they can leave at any moment. This helps the patient feel like he or she can take charge while in the office.
There are many other characteristics of a dentist office that can help reduce the amount of fear that is experienced. The dentist should always let the patient know what they can expect and feel and for how long they will feel that way.
The dentist should also ask the patient frequently whether he or she should keep going. They tell the patient to raise his or her hand if they need a break.
This is another way the patient can take control. This procedure gives them the means to control what is happening to them.
Part of the reason dentists make the procedure so painful for some patients is that they simply do not take or schedule enough time to treat them with the patience and care they deserve. They become in too much of a hurry and make mistakes.
If you are fearful of the dentist it is a very good idea to talk to the dentist about your fears before the procedure begins. When you are trying to talk to him or the receptionist about it and they appear dismissive or unconcerned in anyway, turn around and find another dentist office.
Take the time to find the right dentist for you if you can. However, most of the time visiting the dentist does not result in as much pain as your expect.
Making regular visits to the dentist every two years has tremendous health benefits. Do not let any fear stop you from reaping these benefits.
by: Tommy Greene
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