How to Get Over Your Fear of the Dentist

For some people, visiting a dentist is an unpleasant experience that provokes some fear. This common fear mostly stems from potential bad experiences you may have had with your dentist in the past. For others, fear of the dentist comes in the form of dentophobia, or the extreme fear of visiting a dentist, making them avoid or delay dental treatment. Therefore, the state of fear can culminate in lots of other problems such as costly dental procedures, health problems, or even worse dental anxiety.

Given the importance of your oral health, the vicious cycle of the fear of the dentist should not prevent you from having regular check-ups at your general dentist. To help you overcome your fear of the dentist, contact Lovett Dental today at 832-804-7427.

What’s the Difference Between Fear and Phobia?

Before we delve into the crux of the matter, it is important to disambiguate the difference between phobia and fear. While people use these two terms interchangeably, one is different from the other. Fear can be a strong dislike that may not be present until the thought of visiting the dentist comes around. Conversely, a phobia is a fear that is unreasonable and excessive, so much so that it can affect the quality of your daily life.

In this context, people may express their fear of the dentist in terms of dislike of the aseptic smell or the sound of instruments the dentist use during procedures. For dentophobia, the fear can be so severe that the thought of visiting a dentist causes overwhelming anxiety, panic attacks, or even nightmares.

How Can I Cope With a Fear of the Dentist?

If you are experiencing mild fears over visiting a dentist, the best remedy is to visit a dentist instead of avoiding it. Missing regular check-ups can lead to serious dental problems, which can lead to overall health issues. Suffice to say, avoiding the dentist altogether is not an option; you would rather deal with routine check-ups that cause a little anxiety than deal with serious dental problems that have lifetime implications.

Managing the Pain

Many people fear the dentist because they are nervous about the pain. If this is your case, let your dentist know so that they can administer anesthesia. Furthermore, your dentist in Texas may advise on other ways of minimizing pain and swelling after a dental procedure.

Managing Anxiety

Before resorting to medication to calm your dental anxiety, it is crucial first to explore other options. For example, taking your mind off from an exam can help ease your nervousness. Wear headphones if the sound of equipment bothers you or preoccupy your thoughts by squeezing a stress-relief ball.

Additionally, you might find it helpful to bring along a friend or relative to the appointment to offer you some comfort. A plethora of therapies exists to help you overcome the fear of the dentist. Therefore, it is best to consult your dentist to help advise you on the best option.

Medications to Reduce the Fear of the Dentist

Medications can help you alleviate dentophobia anxiety. Your dentist may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs, sedation dentistry, or general anesthesia. Each of these depends on the dental procedure you are going through and your medical health. Let our sedation dentist know about your health conditions to advise you on the best medication.

Manage Fear of the Dentist by Visiting Lovett Dental

Your dental and oral health is crucial for your general well-being. However, for someone who has extreme fear or phobia, this fact alone cannot convince them to visit a dentist. The good news is that dentists at Lovett Dental are well trained to handle fearful patients. Besides, at Lovett Dental, we specialize in several services which include:

Don’t let the fear of the dentist make you miss your regular dental check-ups. Contact Lovett Dental at 832-804-7427 to learn more about the methods and treatments available to reduce pain and alleviate fear.