Conquering Childhood Fears Of The Dentist As An Adult

Posted on: 19 February 2015

You may feel that nagging pain and know what the issue is, but the idea of even picking up the phone to call a dentist is just too overwhelming. If you are like 75 percent of the adult population, fear of going to the dentist is something that you have to reckon with every time you get a toothache. Unfortunately, a lot of the fear that is associated with dental visits will come from painful or alarming experiences you had as a child. If you know about this all too well, there are a few things you can do to conquer those childhood fears that have taken root in your own psyche.

Look for a Dentist That utilizes a Different Approach

Because of the sheer volume of full-grown adults who are afraid of dentists, many of these professionals have taken strides to help make the dental office experience different. Using an array of behavioral techniques, dentists are working hard to help people feel more comfortable when they find their way into their office. You may find a few different out-of-the-ordinary practices like:

  • Offering a comfortable atmosphere with low lighting and soft music
  • Providing patients with distracting cognitive stimulation, like TV in the dentist's chair or earphones
  • The incorporation of breathing techniques during certain procedures, such as extractions or even exams

Dentists that offer these practices are usually not hard to find because they will get a lot of positive feedback within the community. However, if you do not know of an office right off, call a few local dentists like William J Guthrie DDS PC that advertise offerings of a relaxing and comfortable dental experience.

Consider Peer-to-Peer Therapy Sessions

Therapy can be an effective tool to help overcome all kinds of phobias and fears. If you feel like it is overkill to hire a therapist just to help you feel better about going to the dentist, you can get help for your problem through peer-to-peer therapy. Support groups for people who fear medical settings in general are easy to find.

If you are having an issue finding one already formulated, call up a few friends and get together on your own. It will not be difficult to find people in the same situation as you. Together, you can work to find the root of your dental fears, talk about resolutions, and even go to appointments together to make things a little easier.

The worst thing you can do for the health of your smile is to let dental fears keep you from getting oral care when you need it. Be sure you take the appropriate steps to find a resolution that works for you so you can maintain a healthy smile.

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