How To Overcome A Fear Of The Doctor
While a visit for a dental check-up is usually not a pleasant experience, for some people, it is emotionally difficult.
This may not be because their mouth is in particularly bad shape or because they have had a frightening dental experience; it could just be their fears getting the better of them.
Some people just worry a lot and struggle with the idea of getting bad news.
Others imagine the frightening dental tools they may be exposed to and associate these tools with images from television or movies or from when they were much younger.
Regardless of your reasons for being scared of a dental check-up, there are things that can be done to ease your fears and anxiety.
Start by seeing a sedation dentist who uses special treatments to calm you down.
A cosmetic dentist can help ease your anxiety for such treatments like braces, whitening procedures, cleanings and a variety of other procedures.
In addition to the treatments a dental office can offer, you can take control of your anxiety before even arriving for your appointment.
Using common relaxation techniques like visualization and breathing helps you calm down and take your focus off what is happening.
Visualization uses your imagination to emotionally remove you from a situation.
You can transport yourself mentally to a more pleasant location and you will be thinking those pleasant thoughts instead of focusing on your dental procedures.
Breathing techniques help calm you physiologically.
Deep and slow breaths will help your tense muscles release and bring relaxation all over your body.
One of the best ways to get through a stressful situation like a dental visit is to take along a loved one.
If you can go to the appointment with someone you trust, it will help you fee support and comfort.
Even if you are a full-grown adult who knows better, there is still a sense of protection if you take someone along.
You may know there is no serious danger and your loved one can do nothing to stop the pain that accompanies some procedures, but having them with you makes you feel better.
Decide how to reward yourself after making it through your appointment and focus on that.
If you have been putting off a dental appointment for some time, actually going may be a big deal.
Rewarding yourself for finally being brave enough to go should be something you decide to do.
You can buy yourself a gift, take yourself to a movie or enjoy a fancy dinner out somewhere following the appointment.
Best of all, it gives you a "let us just get through this and to the good stuff" attitude that will help you feel better.
Finally, humor is always a great way to feel better about something.
Imagine the variety of funny things that can happen during your appointment.
Chances are everything will be fine, but if you image a worst case scenario that is way out of reach, it will give you something to laugh about.
This may not be because their mouth is in particularly bad shape or because they have had a frightening dental experience; it could just be their fears getting the better of them.
Some people just worry a lot and struggle with the idea of getting bad news.
Others imagine the frightening dental tools they may be exposed to and associate these tools with images from television or movies or from when they were much younger.
Regardless of your reasons for being scared of a dental check-up, there are things that can be done to ease your fears and anxiety.
Start by seeing a sedation dentist who uses special treatments to calm you down.
A cosmetic dentist can help ease your anxiety for such treatments like braces, whitening procedures, cleanings and a variety of other procedures.
In addition to the treatments a dental office can offer, you can take control of your anxiety before even arriving for your appointment.
Using common relaxation techniques like visualization and breathing helps you calm down and take your focus off what is happening.
Visualization uses your imagination to emotionally remove you from a situation.
You can transport yourself mentally to a more pleasant location and you will be thinking those pleasant thoughts instead of focusing on your dental procedures.
Breathing techniques help calm you physiologically.
Deep and slow breaths will help your tense muscles release and bring relaxation all over your body.
One of the best ways to get through a stressful situation like a dental visit is to take along a loved one.
If you can go to the appointment with someone you trust, it will help you fee support and comfort.
Even if you are a full-grown adult who knows better, there is still a sense of protection if you take someone along.
You may know there is no serious danger and your loved one can do nothing to stop the pain that accompanies some procedures, but having them with you makes you feel better.
Decide how to reward yourself after making it through your appointment and focus on that.
If you have been putting off a dental appointment for some time, actually going may be a big deal.
Rewarding yourself for finally being brave enough to go should be something you decide to do.
You can buy yourself a gift, take yourself to a movie or enjoy a fancy dinner out somewhere following the appointment.
Best of all, it gives you a "let us just get through this and to the good stuff" attitude that will help you feel better.
Finally, humor is always a great way to feel better about something.
Imagine the variety of funny things that can happen during your appointment.
Chances are everything will be fine, but if you image a worst case scenario that is way out of reach, it will give you something to laugh about.
