The loud whirr of the dental tools.
Your dentist's eyes, peeking over the sterile (some may say ominous-looking) green mask.
Leaning back in the seat, pinned down by the heavy protective bib that protects your body from radiation during dental X-rays.
Scraping with sharp tools to chip away at the stains on your teeth. Then the dentists' toothbrush, followed by suctioning and sprays of water from the mini water jet.
It sounds like a typical visit to the dentist. But for many people with some degree of dental phobia -- technically called dentophobia or odontophobia -- it's the worst experience in the world.
Your Fears are Normal. Fear of dentists is very common. Let's face it -- going to the dentist is not fun; dentists do poke and prod a sensitive area of your body. Often an upsetting childhood dental experience has lasting effects into adulthood. Sometimes people "inherit" fears from parents, whose experiences with dentists may have been traumatic. But dentists are better trained today and have tools and techniques to minimize discomfort.
The 7 most common dental fears are:
1. Fear of the unknown :
It is of prime importance that your dentist makes you feel comfortable and relaxed before you start your dental procedure. Just simply casual talking to your dentist can bring about a lot of ease. Give a cue. Establish a sign, such as raising your hand, to let your dentist know if you're uncomfortable and need him to stop working immediately.
2. Fear of dental equipment :
Sometimes, the scariest part of the dental visit is having those strange, sharp, metal tools stuck into your mouth. What can help ease this fear is to ask to hold the tools first, just so they don't seem so foreign. And its good to know that tools that make the loudest noise rarely hurt.
3. Sensitive gag reflex :
People with a sensitive gag reflex may loathe the part of the dentist's visit where those tabs are put in the mouth for the dental X-ray. You can request your dentist to spray an anesthetic at the back of your throat to prevent from gagging.
4. The dentist seems ominous:
Find a dentist with a sense of humor! A study published in the European Journal of Oral Science showed that empathy and humor are big factors in reducing dental fear.
5. Fear of loud noises:
Those dental tools can be really loud, and the noise can stir up fear in some people. Wearing earplugs or headphones will block out the sound and will make you feel more relaxed.
6. Feeling uncomfortable lying back in a dentist's chair:
Some people may be uncomfortable with something as simple as lying back in the dentist's chair, due to a bad back or some control issues. A simple remedy may be for the dentist to only put the patient half-back so that it's more comfortable. Or, a dentist could provide positioning pillows for people who feel aches and pains from being in a laid-back position.
7. Fear of not being in control :
Talk it over. Anxiety often comes from not knowing what’s about to happen. When you know what the dentist is going to do, you won’t be taken by surprise.
And the good news is modern dentistry is virtually painless.
Your dentist's eyes, peeking over the sterile (some may say ominous-looking) green mask.
Leaning back in the seat, pinned down by the heavy protective bib that protects your body from radiation during dental X-rays.
Scraping with sharp tools to chip away at the stains on your teeth. Then the dentists' toothbrush, followed by suctioning and sprays of water from the mini water jet.
It sounds like a typical visit to the dentist. But for many people with some degree of dental phobia -- technically called dentophobia or odontophobia -- it's the worst experience in the world.
Your Fears are Normal. Fear of dentists is very common. Let's face it -- going to the dentist is not fun; dentists do poke and prod a sensitive area of your body. Often an upsetting childhood dental experience has lasting effects into adulthood. Sometimes people "inherit" fears from parents, whose experiences with dentists may have been traumatic. But dentists are better trained today and have tools and techniques to minimize discomfort.
The 7 most common dental fears are:
1. Fear of the unknown :
It is of prime importance that your dentist makes you feel comfortable and relaxed before you start your dental procedure. Just simply casual talking to your dentist can bring about a lot of ease. Give a cue. Establish a sign, such as raising your hand, to let your dentist know if you're uncomfortable and need him to stop working immediately.
2. Fear of dental equipment :
Sometimes, the scariest part of the dental visit is having those strange, sharp, metal tools stuck into your mouth. What can help ease this fear is to ask to hold the tools first, just so they don't seem so foreign. And its good to know that tools that make the loudest noise rarely hurt.
3. Sensitive gag reflex :
People with a sensitive gag reflex may loathe the part of the dentist's visit where those tabs are put in the mouth for the dental X-ray. You can request your dentist to spray an anesthetic at the back of your throat to prevent from gagging.
4. The dentist seems ominous:
Find a dentist with a sense of humor! A study published in the European Journal of Oral Science showed that empathy and humor are big factors in reducing dental fear.
5. Fear of loud noises:
Those dental tools can be really loud, and the noise can stir up fear in some people. Wearing earplugs or headphones will block out the sound and will make you feel more relaxed.
6. Feeling uncomfortable lying back in a dentist's chair:
Some people may be uncomfortable with something as simple as lying back in the dentist's chair, due to a bad back or some control issues. A simple remedy may be for the dentist to only put the patient half-back so that it's more comfortable. Or, a dentist could provide positioning pillows for people who feel aches and pains from being in a laid-back position.
7. Fear of not being in control :
Talk it over. Anxiety often comes from not knowing what’s about to happen. When you know what the dentist is going to do, you won’t be taken by surprise.
And the good news is modern dentistry is virtually painless.
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