Scared of the Dentist?
Dental anxiety can sometimes be the biggest roadblock to taking care of your teeth. You might be procrastinating having that sensitive tooth looked at because you’re both afraid of what the treatment required might be, or even afraid of being physically in a dental office. As a child growing up, I was never really very apprehensive about my dental appointments. Sure, I didn’t enjoy the pinch of the needle or the numbness in my cheek for hours after having a filling completed, but I was lucky to have a dentist that was reasonably gentle and aware of dental anxiety especially in children. Having treated so many patients and hearing all their stories of their previous dental experiences, I’m developing an understanding for what dentist visits were like for everyone else. People reminisce about having to be pinned down for treatment, the dentist physically placing a knee on the patient’s chest to extract a tooth, it’s no wonder that dental anxiety exists. No person in their right mind would want to go through that experience, let alone have to pay for it. This whole issue definitely took a new light when I was perusing the horror section of the video rental store to see a movie entitled “The Dentist”. After going through 8 years of post-secondary education, the last thing I wanted to see was my profession in the horror section… But this, unfortunately, is a common held view toward us. Dentistry, however, is changing. In most offices, improvements are being made to minimize patient anxiety and promote a positive experience. Elements such as our modern spa-like feel and the view of the lake in the treatment rooms help to relax our patients during their stay. Distractions such as television and music while you’re in the chair can also help to take your mind away from what is going on. Adjuncts such as topical anaesthetic, a numbing gel, which is placed on the gums to minimize the “mosquito bite” of the needle. However, all of these things pale in comparison to your rapport with your dentist. Nothing is scarier than the fear of the unknown, and being able to communicate effectively with your dentist and understand what is being done and why it is being done, is crucial to promoting a comfortable environment. Contrary to what some people may think, no dentist would ever want to be seen as the character in the movie mentioned above. Our primary goal and a part of the Hippocratic Oath that we as medical professionals adhere to, the desire to heal and not to hurt unnecessarily. We are simply tasked with the difficult job of managing an area that is both very constricted and very sensitive. If a fear of the dental experience is what is hindering you from fixing a painful situation, let your dentist know what it is that you fear and are worried about. I am certain that in most instances, we will take every measure possible to alleviate your concerns.