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Are you scared of
Dentists?
When was your last
dental exam?
For many people,
regular dental check ups are not high on
their list of priorities. And the reason usually isn’t a lack
of money or
insurance. Or that they forgot to make an appointment. The main reason
is
fear.
People are afraid
of the unknown (Ever watched "Jurassic Park" for the fifth time? -
Yawn).
People are frightened by stories of negative dental
experiences from family and friends. People associate the dental exam
with a feeling of helplessness and a loss of
control. Most of the time the fear and anxiety are rooted in bad
childhood experiences.
The longer you avoid
a dental appointment, the scarier it
seems to become.
We have seen patients that haven't had a
checkup in 20 years and had no caviteis (No fair!).
People
who neglect regular dental exams often suffer
from numerous oral health and general health problems, the most
obvious one is losing teeth to cavities or gum disease.
There
is the issue of halitosis
(bad
breath),
often caused by bacteria that brushing and flossing alone cannot
eradicate.
Studiest link gum disease to serious
medical problems including diabetes, heart disease and premature
births. If you
have an infection in your mouth, this infection can compromise your
immune system and your entire body. Bacteria do travel.
What about the
emotional and psychological aspects of
neglecting oral care? The reluctance to smile is embarassing. So is bad
breath. From a
business and a social standpoint, bad teeth can really limit your
success.
The failure to have regular dental check ups can result in missed
opportunities to diagnose oral cancer. High risk patients include
people who like to
smoke (chewing tobacco is way worse than smoking) as well as patients
that
enjoy
alcoholic beverages. The sooner oral cancer is detected, the greater
the odds that one can beat it.
Tips:
Do not wait until there is a problem to seek treatment. Start
developing a relationship with your dentist before you are an emergency
patient.
It
is less expensive and less stressful.
Ask for a
consultation appointment only. This gives you an
idea of what is wrong with your teeth (hopefully not too much) without
any
obligation for further treatment. Get a second opinion, if you feel
that you
want one.
Book your
appointment for a time of day when there is little or no
stress. Do not book it for when you know you have to be somewhere else
shortly
afterward.
Talk with your
Dentist. Ask questions. Discuss
various treatment options. Understand
these options. If you don’t understand them, ask again. You
as the patient have
the right to ask any questions regarding your dental health, and then
make the
decisions that are right for you. Any choice of treatment is only right
for you
if your informed consent is present.
Anxiety often comes
from not knowing what could happen to you.
If you want to know more details, just ask. If you do not want
to hear details, just say so.
Start slowly. Build
your confidence level one step at a
time. For example, begin treatment by simply getting your mouth
and teeth examined. Then
come back later for a cleaning. You don't have to do everything at
once. Your
comfort level determines the treatment. You are the patient. You
should be in
control of the situation.
And, hey. We will be nice to you. Tell us what the problem is and we
will work around it.
Come out from under the leaf! |
