Even the bravest person can feel fear when visiting a dentist, especially when believing it is a guarantee of pain no matter how simple the procedure. Tooth pain often seems much worse than other pain a person may experience.
Most of the time, people with a fear of dentists have had a negative experience at some point with dental pain. Many people find this type of trauma difficult to recover from, especially when having more than one negative experience with a dentist or dental pain. However, a good dentist can help you overcome your fear while making dental procedures painless.
Gaining Trust
Having a stranger's hands in your mouth, poking around with sharp tools and pulling at your gums can cause fear even in people without dental fear. An experienced dentist knows how to gain your trust by building a relationship with you that creates a positive and trusting feeling. He will explain any procedure first and will cater to your unique situation while paying attention to your worry and fear.
An experienced dentist will answer all of your questions and will put you at ease as he patiently helps you through your dental procedure while keeping your fear a first priority. This goes a long way in alleviating the fear of pain and even any actual pain experienced from a procedure. If you don't feel comfortable with your dentist or if he seems impatient with you, it's usually best to find another dentist.
Anesthesia
If a dentist begins a dental procedure without allowing enough time for the anesthesia to take effect, it can cause pain and anxiety. An experienced dentist will ask if you feel anything before starting a procedure. If so, he'll wait a little longer for the anesthesia to take effect or he will give you additional anesthesia. Don't feel like you have to be brave and don't feel as if you shouldn't speak up if you do feel pain. Your dentist wants to know if you feel pain so he can remedy the situation.
Most dentists use Novocain or other types of topical anesthesia, but for major dental work or for extreme fear, there are stronger options. New dental advances like nerve blocks, hypnotic techniques, and laser treatments can also reduce pain and stress.
Another popular option for people with a fear of dental pain is sedation dentistry. With this type of anesthesia, you simply fall asleep while the dentist performs a procedure, waking up feeling relaxed, refreshed, and pain free. Prescription painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen also help alleviate any pain after a dental procedure.
The best method for preventing dental pain is preventing the need for dental procedures. By practicing good oral habits that include brushing and flossing several times per day along with making regular appointments for cleanings and checkups will help prevent the need for any painful procedures. Whether you visit a San Antonio, TX, dentist or a dentist anywhere in the country, by finding one you trust and feel comfortable with, you will lessen dental anxiety.
Author Resource:
Chris Harmen writes for Silver Oaks Dentistry (http://www.silveroaksdentistry.com), a family and cosmetic dentist, San Antonio, TX. This San Antonio, TX, dentist offers preventative checkups, whitening, dental procedures, and emergency treatment (http://www.silveroaksdentistry.com).
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