Coping with Dental Anxiety

There was a time when visiting the dentist was potentially a life threatening experience. Not only could you have your hair cut, your face shaven, and a tooth extracted in the same chair, but the probability of your involvement in a shootout was more or less imminent.

Sounds exciting! Unfortunately, for many people this is still how they feel about receiving dental care in a dental office. Current studies indicate that almost 50% of the U.S. population does not receive regular preventive dental care. This is due mainly to the fear and anxiety that most of us have felt in the dental chair.

Today's dentist, unlike Doc Holliday in the Wild West, won't cut your hair. He/She specializes in teeth exclusively and "arms" himself with modern and sophisticated instruments "aimed" at safely and comfortably treating the patient's dental needs. Today, Doc's six shooter and whiskey bottle have been replaced by twentieth century dental technology. The days of biting the bullet have truly vanished.

So what can you do to alleviate your fears of receiving dental care? According to behavioral scientists, dental visits can be less stressful if you do the following: Avoiding caffeine for at least six hours before a dental appointment can make you less anxious. Eating high-protein foods, such as cheese, one hour before your visit can do a lot to calm dental anxiety (sugary foods can increase agitation and carbohydrates do not have the same calming effect that protein-rich foods do). Focus on breathing regularly and slowly. Concentrate on pausing for a few seconds between exhaling and inhaling. People who are anxious tend to hold their breath, which decreases their oxygen levels and further increases the feeling of panic. And finally, always agree upon a specific gesture with your dentist, such as a hand signal, so that you may alert him to pause.

Identify with your dentist the specific aspects of dental treatment that concern you the most. If the sound of the dental drill makes you anxious, address this issue with the dentist. The mere act of discussing your fears openly may not only lead to possible specific solutions, but it will also ease some of the anxiety associated with the fear.

Many dentists receive training in their dental school curriculum intended specifically for treating the apprehensive patient. In fact, there is a nationally recognized dental school that includes hypnotism and acupuncture in its dental curriculum. Hypnotism and acupuncture can be a practical solution to facilitate stress-free dental visits. Consider that these disciplines are powerful enough methods for helping people to control such things as eating disorders and cigarette smoking. If this method has worked in the past for you, call your local dental society and locate the appropriate dentist in your area who can provide this type of service.

For some of us, it is the perceived loss of control we experience in the dental chair which intimidates us the most. Seek out a dentist who lets you have complete control in the chair, who educates you to a degree that you are able to determine your own course of treatment, and who lets you feel and act afraid without feeling embarrassed. Interview a prospective dentist if necessary and if you feel comfortable talking to him about your apprehension, then you will ostensibly feel comfortable working with him. Also, dentists who accept children into their practices tend to be the most patient human beings on the planet.

What about that old Doc Holliday? Well, that old critter, they ran him out of town a long, long time ago on account of this new guy in town. So you can just toss away that bullet, because NOW IT'S SAFE TO GO TO THE DENTIST!