Fear of the Dentist
I developed a fear of the dentist when I was in college. Because I was under a tight budget I made a decision when I needed a root canal, to go into the dental school. This was one of those decisions in your life where you wish you had a “bad idea” alarm that would sound and slap you back into your right mind. The procedure lasted 3 visits of 4 hours each excruciating trip. My girl friend at the time would drop me off and pick me up and each time she picked me up I was soaking wet because I had sweat through my clothes. My fear stems from not only the pain that I experienced but the lack of control that I felt with the rubber dam in my mouth not knowing how long the procedure would last. Needless to say I have had a fear of the dentist ever since. I know now that many people have had a traumatic experience and have subsequently developed a fear of the dentist. There are however things that can be done to minimize this fear. The first and simplest is just to say to your dentist “I have a low pain threshold and would like to know what can be done to make me more comfortable.” You really have to be assertive in making sure that you will feel comfortable. One of the things that I have done is ask the dentist for some breaks during a procedure. This will help you to feel more in control and less fearful. Always make sure that you have something to distract you. I bring my ipod to my dentist so I can’t hear the sounds. Most dentists now have a tv that you can watch or just some peaceful scene playing on a computer. Try relaxation techniques like controlled breathing. Taking a big breath, holding it, and letting it out very slowly. This will help lower your heart rate and ease muscle tension. Ask your dentist what methods of sedation or available. There are 3 different types of sedation that can be used. Nitrous Oxide, IV sedation and oral sedation. Have a discussion with your dentist to figure out which type of sedation is right for you.
