It’s something that most of us experience through our childhood, yet for some of us this also expands as we grow older. Whatever group you fall into, it’s time to overcome your fear of the dentist once and for all.
Some of you will have already tried all sorts of tricks to beat it. It may have been scheduling appointments at slightly different times, with evening dentists in Northampton sometimes reporting an increase in the number of nervous patients during this period for that very reason. In truth, the options available to you are endless and we’ll now mull over some of the best ways in which you can overcome your fear of the dentist’s chair for good.
Make the most of your first visit
It might “feel” like the hardest visit, but in actual fact your first visit to the dentist is probably going to be the easiest for you.
The reason is simple; on most occasions this visit will be for a minor procedure – which includes a simple check-up or a clean and polish.
By opting for a simple appointment for your first time, you can at least slowly build yourself up and prepare your body for the potentially more advanced procedures that might come your way in the future.
Take your own relaxing material in with you
One of the most common sounds associated with the dentist for most people is the sound of drilling, or the brush swirling around. Some practices may have their own sound system, but don’t leave this to chance. It certainly won’t be frowned upon for you to take your own headphones in and just try and tune-out of the procedure. Sure, there might be occasions where your dentist might need to ask you a question, but that’s when our next suggestion comes into play…
Devise sign language to use with your dentist
It sounds bizarre, but sign language could be your biggest ‘weapon’ when it comes to the dentist. With your mouth in knots, it goes without saying that squeezing out a word or three is just out of the question. It’s in these occasions where you need to arm yourself with some sort of signal, that will tell the dentist that you’re in pain and they need to stop. If you can agree this from the start it will help immensely – and also provide you with the reassurance that you at least hold some control of the procedure.
Additionally, and back to our previous point, it can help with communication if you are relying on headphones during your appointment.
Some people will turn to sedation clinics
If all has failed, you might have a chance to turn to a sedation clinic. These have been designed for those patients who really are struggling with the stress of the dentist and involves sedation through inhalation. You’ll inhale a gas-like substance through a nosepiece (the same substance as what women are provided with during pregnancy) and it will ultimately act as a relaxing agent.