Good Three Tips to Conquer Your Dental Phobia

Good Three Tips to Conquer Your Dental Phobia

Having pre-dental jitters is not only true for children. In fact, it is estimated that three out of four adults are afraid to go to the dentist, which means millions of people are not getting the dental care they need because of sheer fear. There are people who get so extremely scared that they get panic attacks. While this is a recognized phobia in the medical community called dentophobia, one can't just ignore it because it impacts a vital component in his or her overall wellbeing, which is dental health. As such, dentists have come up with coping mechanisms that frightened patients can use to rise above their fear.

Here are three of the most recommended coping techniques to help you or someone you know to defeat the fear of dentists and get the dental care you need.

Tip #1: Ask for a Meeting with Your Dentist before Your Procedure

According to psychologists, the number one reason people are afraid of something is their fear of the unknown. It's similar for those who have dentophobia. Most of them are scared because they don't anything about what's going to happen, what they will feel during the procedure and what the outcome will be. If your dread of dental treatments stem from this reason, what you can do is schedule a talk with your dentist prior to your treatment. This way, your dentist can discuss everything about it and answer all questions you have.

Tip #2: Play Around with the Dental Apparatus

There are patients who dread having a dental checkup because they are scared of dental equipment. Noisy drills, sharp tools and metal apparatus doesn't really conjure an image of comfort. If it would help you to hold and play around with these dental equipment so they don't seem too foreign, you can do so under the supervision of your dentist. You can even ask questions on what each tool does to help you feel at ease.

Tip #3: Find a Dentist with a Sense of Humor

Does this this tip sound weird? According to the European Journal of Oral Science, the fear patients have toward dental procedures can be significantly reduced if the dentist has a sense of humor. Fear is a psychological barrier and a dentist who can make a patient laugh can break down this barrier. Dentists are often perceived as ominous professionals, so if you can find a dentist who is able to connect with you on a personal level and make you more comfortable with a couple of jokes, it's already a big help in calming down the scaredy-cat in you.

There are millions of people who are suffering from poor oral health because they are afraid of that one person who can help them achieve optimum dental health - the dentist. While everyone is entitled to have his or her phobia, you have to overcome your fear toward dentists because not having a professional assist you in your oral health can have serious repercussions. Try out the abovementioned coping mechanisms, but if these are not enough, you can always consult with a dentist near you.