Conquering Your Fear of the Dentist. Part I of a Two-Part Series

Dental anxiety is quite common and prevents some otherwise intelligent, rational people from routinely getting dental care and optimizing and maintaining their dental health. Most dental phobics have experienced a high degree of discomfort at one time or another with either an unskilled or uncaring dentist. Unfortunately, if the experience is unpleasant enough, these folks will seek help only if what, often times begins as a minor condition, progresses to a significant one and the pain becomes unbearable.  

So how do you conquer your fear of the dentist? There are two basic things you can start with to get back into the dental chair. No. 1, the most important step is to find the right dentist. A good dentist for the dental phobic is patient, competent, endeavors to make all visits pain-free, genuinely cares about his patients, and has the bedside manner to nurture his patients through their past trauma.

Begin by polling your friends and family about their dentists. Tell them your concerns and, even if they don’t share them, ask them how they think their dentist would handle someone like yourself.

After you’ve narrowed down a list of three to five candidates, try to make appointments simply to meet them. Ask the dentist about his practice, philosophy, the steps he takes to alleviate pain and anxiety. Don’t be intimidated. You’re the consumer and there are other dentists.

If a dentist won’t agree solely to meet, which could be the case and doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s not a good match for you, then make the appointment for a routine examination, which is almost always pain-free. During the exam, you can interview the dentist and get a feel for his style. It’s important before anyone—hygienist or doctor—asks you to open wide that you fully explain the degree of your fear.

You can ask the dentist to stop at any time during an exam if you feel overwhelming anxiety. Or, if the dentist has done a good job at allaying your fears, and he finds something that needs treating, you may opt to continue right then with treatment, which is a good sign that you’ve found a good fit.

In Part II, we’ll discuss a technique called Guided Imagery in which your dentist can lead the process or that you can undertake yourself.

For information about dentures, dental implants and gum disease, call the Ferber Dental Group at 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.