Some folks can think back to a childhood experience when a dentist failed to numb an area properly before drilling into or removing a tooth. A traumatic experience like this stays in the back of someone’s mind and can make it hard to want to go to even a regular cleaning. Even though there may not be anything frightening to most people about having their teeth cleaned to some dread hearing the dentist say he found something wrong because they don’t want to relive that experience from their childhood. Others may not have experienced something traumatic themselves but have heard enough stories from friends and seen on their television’s tales of bad experiences that others have had and that is enough reason to give them pause.
Others only go to the dentist when something is wrong. This means that they have probably never had a pleasurable experience at the dentist. They have only known that when experiencing agonizing mouth pain, a trip to the dentist filled with more pain results in eventual relief from their agonizing pain. While no one would argue that those individuals are glad to experience relief, if the only time they go to the dentist is when they are in pain then they don’t get to experience the benefits of regular dental cleanings. The end result of this is that they are going to have to return to the dentist sooner rather than later for intense mouth pain.
Fear of going to the dentist can be overcome. Remember courage is not the absence of fear but rather the failure to move forward in the face of fear. Moving forward comes much easier when someone has a plan in place. The first plan is to figure out what the root of the fear is. While some people fear going to the dentist because of a bad experience others fear going because they do not like the feeling of being out of control in the dentist’s chair or are concerned about what the dentist might say they are doing wrong. Alleviating the latter fear can be as simple as evaluating one’s dental hygiene habits and bringing them in line with solid practices . When thinking about the fear of being out of control it can help a person to remember that in most situations the anxiety people feel is worse than the actual experience.
When going to your local St Kilda dentist consider a few things to help put your mind at ease. If you have anxiety about a negative previous experience schedule a time to sit and visit with the dentist to express your concerns. Perhaps bring someone with you. Having a friend or relative nearby can help you feel more at ease.
The benefits of going to the dentist are worth overcoming. Put a plan together and begin to put your fears behind you. You will most likely find that the fears that you have are easier to overcome than you ever imagined.
