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Overcoming dental anxiety
This factsheet is for people who are worried about going to the dentist.
If you are nervous about seeing a dentist you aren't alone, many people feel
anxious about dental treatment. This factsheet describes some of the
techniques that are available to overcome anxiety, and help you receive the
dental treatment that you need.
Dental anxiety
People of all ages and backgrounds are affected by dental anxiety. This
doesn't stop most people visiting the dentist, but others would prefer to suffer
from toothache than have dental treatment.
Not going to the dentist can cause serious problems. Tooth decay and gum
disease do not get better on their own. If you do not go to the dentist, you may
not know that you have these diseases until it's too late. This could result in
teeth needing to be taken out. Also, dentists screen patients for mouth
cancer, so regular check-ups can save lives.
Dental problems can be very painful, and sometimes people try to make their
toothache go away by taking lots of painkillers rather than going to the dentist.
This can have serious side-effects and may even be fatal.
If you have toothache, it is very important to follow the instructions on the
packet of painkillers and make an appointment with a dentist as soon as
possible.
Teeth play an important part in our appearance. Unsightly, uncared-for teeth
can lead to problems with confidence and self-esteem. Regular visits to the
dentist will help you to keep a healthy, bright smile.
Different kinds of nervous
Being nervous about going to the dentist affects people in different ways.
Some are anxious about specific aspects of dental treatment. Others dislike
being in such close contact with someone that they don't know very well.
Some people have had unpleasant experiences as children, and are
frightened that these will be repeated.
There are also different levels of dental anxiety, ranging from slight
nervousness to phobia (when someone knows that their intense fear is
excessive and unreasonable).
However anxious a person is, there are ways of dealing with the problem, one
step at a time.
Getting some support
The first step is to get in touch with a dentist to discuss your anxiety.
Unfortunately, some people with dental phobia may not even be able to
consider approaching a dentist for support. If that is the case, you can seek
support from your GP, who might be able to recommend a counsellor.
Finding a supportive dentist
Dentists are aware that some patients are anxious, and are trained to take
your fears seriously and deal with them sensitively. Some dentists specialise
in treating nervous patients.
One way of finding a supportive dentist is by word of mouth; in other words,
taking a recommendation from someone who has been to a dentist who was
sympathetic to his or her needs.
If this isn't possible, try asking a friend to make some phone calls to find out
which dentists specialise in treating nervous patients. Make a short list of
suitable dentists and then call some yourself, to see which one feels right for
you. Be open about your worries - it's only by sharing them that the staff can
arrange the support that you need.
Ask if you can book an appointment where no treatment is planned, so you
can meet the dentist and discuss your anxieties. If possible arrange a time
when you won't have to sit and wait at reception, as this can be quite tense.
You may find it helps to take a reassuring friend or family member with you.
Specific points that you can raise during this first session include:
If, by the end of the session you do not feel comfortable with the first dentist
you meet, do not feel obliged to proceed. Instead, arrange to visit another
dentist on your short list.
Sedation
For some people, having some form of sedation helps them to have the
treatment that they need. Sedative gases and drugs relieve anxiety and cause
temporary relaxation without putting you to sleep. There are different types of
sedation.
Inhalation sedation
This is also know as "gas and air", and is a mixture of nitrous oxide gas,
oxygen and air. You breathe it in through a mask that is placed over your nose.
When the treatment is finished, inhalation sedation wears off after a few deep
breaths.
Intravenous sedation
This involves an injection of a sedative drug through a fine plastic tube
(cannula) into a vein, usually on the back of your hand. Most people
remember very little about dental treatment done under intravenous sedation.
Oral sedation
This type of sedation involves swallowing sedative tablets or syrup.
General anaesthesia
This is when patients are unconscious for an operation. When you have a
general anaesthetic you are asleep and don't feel or remember anything
about the procedure.
There are risks associated with general anaesthesia, so it is not commonly
used for dental treatment. However, it is an option for complex dental surgery,
young children and people with special needs. Occasionally, people with
severe dental phobia have general anaesthesia so that they can receive
dental treatment.
General anaesthesia and some sedatives temporarily affect your co-
ordination and reasoning skills, so you should not drink alcohol, drive,
operate machinery or sign legal documents for 48 hours afterwards. If you
have children, you may need to arrange for someone to care for them during
this time.
Although sedation and general anaesthesia make it possible for some
people to have the treatment they need, these methods do not reduce their
level of anxiety.
Psychological techniques
There are a number if psychological techniques that can be used to reduce
levels of anxiety
Psychotherapy and counselling
Psychotherapy and counselling can help with a whole range of phobias.
There are several different approaches, but generally the aim is to discuss
your anxieties in a way that can help to overcome them. This may involve:
Distraction techniques
It is sometimes helpful to distract attention away from the treatment. You can
do this in a number of ways.
Hypnotherapy creates an altered state of mind that feels like being very
relaxed. In this state, suggestions made by a therapist (or a dentist trained in
hypnotherapy) can help people to receive dental treatment. People can also
be taught how to do this for themselves. However, hypnotherapy doesn't work
for everybody, some people are more susceptible than others.
This factsheet is for people who are worried about going to the dentist.
If you are nervous about seeing a dentist you aren't alone, many people feel
anxious about dental treatment. This factsheet describes some of the
techniques that are available to overcome anxiety, and help you receive the
dental treatment that you need.
Dental anxiety
People of all ages and backgrounds are affected by dental anxiety. This
doesn't stop most people visiting the dentist, but others would prefer to suffer
from toothache than have dental treatment.
Not going to the dentist can cause serious problems. Tooth decay and gum
disease do not get better on their own. If you do not go to the dentist, you may
not know that you have these diseases until it's too late. This could result in
teeth needing to be taken out. Also, dentists screen patients for mouth
cancer, so regular check-ups can save lives.
Dental problems can be very painful, and sometimes people try to make their
toothache go away by taking lots of painkillers rather than going to the dentist.
This can have serious side-effects and may even be fatal.
If you have toothache, it is very important to follow the instructions on the
packet of painkillers and make an appointment with a dentist as soon as
possible.
Teeth play an important part in our appearance. Unsightly, uncared-for teeth
can lead to problems with confidence and self-esteem. Regular visits to the
dentist will help you to keep a healthy, bright smile.
Different kinds of nervous
Being nervous about going to the dentist affects people in different ways.
Some are anxious about specific aspects of dental treatment. Others dislike
being in such close contact with someone that they don't know very well.
Some people have had unpleasant experiences as children, and are
frightened that these will be repeated.
There are also different levels of dental anxiety, ranging from slight
nervousness to phobia (when someone knows that their intense fear is
excessive and unreasonable).
However anxious a person is, there are ways of dealing with the problem, one
step at a time.
Getting some support
The first step is to get in touch with a dentist to discuss your anxiety.
Unfortunately, some people with dental phobia may not even be able to
consider approaching a dentist for support. If that is the case, you can seek
support from your GP, who might be able to recommend a counsellor.
Finding a supportive dentist
Dentists are aware that some patients are anxious, and are trained to take
your fears seriously and deal with them sensitively. Some dentists specialise
in treating nervous patients.
One way of finding a supportive dentist is by word of mouth; in other words,
taking a recommendation from someone who has been to a dentist who was
sympathetic to his or her needs.
If this isn't possible, try asking a friend to make some phone calls to find out
which dentists specialise in treating nervous patients. Make a short list of
suitable dentists and then call some yourself, to see which one feels right for
you. Be open about your worries - it's only by sharing them that the staff can
arrange the support that you need.
Ask if you can book an appointment where no treatment is planned, so you
can meet the dentist and discuss your anxieties. If possible arrange a time
when you won't have to sit and wait at reception, as this can be quite tense.
You may find it helps to take a reassuring friend or family member with you.
Specific points that you can raise during this first session include:
- Timing: ask your dentist to let you go at your own pace. For example,
you might choose to have an X-ray and examination at the next
appointment, or you may only feel ready to try sitting in the chair. As you
take each step and find that you can cope with it, the level of anxiety will
be reduced. - Control: discuss with your dentist that you want to have some control
over the amount of dental work that is done. It's important that you don't
feel pushed further or faster than you can cope with. A useful way of
making sure you feel in control is to discuss a signal - such as a
raised hand - that lets the dentist know you need to stop for a break. - Specific concerns: make sure you tell your dentist if there are specific
areas that make you anxious, or if you have had traumatic experiences
with dentistry in the past. Ask questions about anything that worries
you, and allow the dentist to reassure you. Dentistry has advanced so
much in recent years that treatments can be totally painless. - Choices: find out if the practice offers sedation, hypnotherapy or
counselling to support nervous patients. These treatment options are
described in more detail below.
If, by the end of the session you do not feel comfortable with the first dentist
you meet, do not feel obliged to proceed. Instead, arrange to visit another
dentist on your short list.
Sedation
For some people, having some form of sedation helps them to have the
treatment that they need. Sedative gases and drugs relieve anxiety and cause
temporary relaxation without putting you to sleep. There are different types of
sedation.
Inhalation sedation
This is also know as "gas and air", and is a mixture of nitrous oxide gas,
oxygen and air. You breathe it in through a mask that is placed over your nose.
When the treatment is finished, inhalation sedation wears off after a few deep
breaths.
Intravenous sedation
This involves an injection of a sedative drug through a fine plastic tube
(cannula) into a vein, usually on the back of your hand. Most people
remember very little about dental treatment done under intravenous sedation.
Oral sedation
This type of sedation involves swallowing sedative tablets or syrup.
General anaesthesia
This is when patients are unconscious for an operation. When you have a
general anaesthetic you are asleep and don't feel or remember anything
about the procedure.
There are risks associated with general anaesthesia, so it is not commonly
used for dental treatment. However, it is an option for complex dental surgery,
young children and people with special needs. Occasionally, people with
severe dental phobia have general anaesthesia so that they can receive
dental treatment.
General anaesthesia and some sedatives temporarily affect your co-
ordination and reasoning skills, so you should not drink alcohol, drive,
operate machinery or sign legal documents for 48 hours afterwards. If you
have children, you may need to arrange for someone to care for them during
this time.
Although sedation and general anaesthesia make it possible for some
people to have the treatment they need, these methods do not reduce their
level of anxiety.
Psychological techniques
There are a number if psychological techniques that can be used to reduce
levels of anxiety
Psychotherapy and counselling
Psychotherapy and counselling can help with a whole range of phobias.
There are several different approaches, but generally the aim is to discuss
your anxieties in a way that can help to overcome them. This may involve:
- exploring the origins of a fear in childhood
- looking at the thinking patterns that arouse a fear
- facing your fear gradually so that you learn to cope with it
- learning ways to cope such as relaxation techniques, breathing
exercises or meditation
Distraction techniques
It is sometimes helpful to distract attention away from the treatment. You can
do this in a number of ways.
- Listen to music on a personal stereo.
- Concentrate on relaxing each part of your body in turn.
- Think about something you are looking forward to.
Hypnotherapy creates an altered state of mind that feels like being very
relaxed. In this state, suggestions made by a therapist (or a dentist trained in
hypnotherapy) can help people to receive dental treatment. People can also
be taught how to do this for themselves. However, hypnotherapy doesn't work
for everybody, some people are more susceptible than others.
| Avenue Dental Cosmetic and Family Dentistry |
983 Peachtree Parkway, Suite C, Cumming, GA 30041 - Phone: 770-888-4444