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Dental anxiety can prevent people from receiving necessary oral healthcare, leading tо poorer overall and oral health outcomes. By facing your fears head-on and receiving appropriate care, іt can become easier tо receive care that will give your mouth and overall well-being the support іt requires.
Individuals living with dental anxiety have access tо various resources online and offline that can help alleviate their fears. Groups are available both physically and virtually that provide help іn order tо combat any fears related tо dental visits. If you're experiencing dental anxiety and putting off necessary care, searching for a "dental clinic near me" that specializes іn treating anxious patients can be a helpful first step.
Practical Tips for Managing Your Fears
As with a clogged kitchen sink drain, fear shouldn't be ignored either. If it is interfering with your life or keeping you from reaching your goals, now is the time to act on them and face them head on.
Step one in conquering your fears is understanding what they are. Start by recognizing your fear, then analyze its source; this may take some time but is essential in helping to overcome your anxieties.
Avoiding your fears may give temporary comfort, but in the long run it will only teach your amygdala that they're too much to bear. Instead, try gradually facing them, starting with situations which are easier and moving up to more challenging ones.
Graded exposure can help you overcome your fears. Work with a mental health professional to develop a strategy tailored specifically for you; this may involve one-on-one therapy sessions, relaxation training exercises or cognitive behavioral therapy.
Schedule Regular Appointments
Regular dental appointments are an integral component of preventative oral healthcare, providing your dentist with an opportunity to detect issues like tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer early and more cost-effectively treat them.
Regular dental cleanings not only help remove stubborn plaque and tartar that regular brushing and flossing cannot reach, but can also lower your risk of cavities. Your hygienist may also provide guidance in improving brushing techniques or providing diet suggestions that could support oral health.
Research demonstrates a direct relationship between your oral and overall health, with oral problems often being linked to systemic conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Furthermore, maintaining your teeth and gums may lower the risk of stroke and heart disease in middle age.
Talk to Your Dentist
Due to fear, many individuals avoid receiving dental care as needed. This can result in serious health complications that require more invasive procedures for treatment; furthermore, regular preventive cleanings won't be possible either.
Communication between dentists and their patients about fears is vital to managing anxiety effectively. Additionally, having someone hold your hand or give encouragement at appointments may provide invaluable reassurance and make you more relaxed.
Some individuals experience anxiety due to past negative experiences or fear of loss of control. Cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps alter negative thought patterns, and exposure therapy - gradually desensitizing yourself to things that trigger fears - are effective solutions.
Consider Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry can be an ideal solution for anyone suffering from dental anxiety, as it is safe and allows patients to return immediately back to their regular lives after an appointment. Furthermore, the sedation helps minimize discomfort during dental procedures, making the experience more pleasurable for patients undergoing procedures. Sedation is particularly effective for children as it encourages them to cooperate more fully at visits while creating positive experiences at the dentist that reduce fear while encouraging regular oral health checks in future.
Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous oxide sedation is one of the mildest forms of sedation and involves inhaling gas through a mask over your nose, to induce relaxation while still being awake and responsive to questions. Once its effects wear off quickly, this treatment should no longer have any side effects.
Oral sedation involves taking medications orally prior to an appointment and often changes during. It can range from mild to moderate sedation, often being adjusted throughout. Intravenous sedation may be more effective for moderate-severe anxiety levels as it enables longer procedures to be completed in one sitting.