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Q: I'm so afraid of going to the dentist that I haven't gone for years. Any advice?
A: First of all, your fear of going to the dentist is, unfortunately,
not an uncommon situation. By some estimates, as many as 40 million
Americans suffer from dental phobia. A dental phobia can trace
back to any number of reasons. A bad experience in childhood, anxiety
about not being in control while seated in a dentist's chair, embarrassment
about dental neglect, and general fear of the unknown are all factors
that can lead to a paralyzing phobia.
One way to get through the phobia is to at least go talk to a dentist,
explain your situation honestly and let the dentist come up with
a treatment plan that will allay your concerns. If fear of the
drill is at the heart of your anxiety, your dentist can explain
its function and let you see and hear it work before he uses it.
You could also arrange a signal with the dentist to stop work if
you are beginning to panic.
The other thing to remember is that if your phobia stems from a
bad experience decades ago, dental technology has changed significantly
over the years. Among other things, sedation options are safe and
varied and dentists are trained to help people with phobias. So
start your path back to good oral health; go talk with a dentist.
July 20, 2009
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