Have you just received an email, text message or letter reminding you that it is time for a dental check-up? If you are like some people, this reminder is nothing more than an inconvenience that you now have to fit into the next few weeks of work. But, if you are like 7 out of 9 dental patients, the idea of getting into the dental chair makes your heart jump to your chest and butterflies in the stomach follow soon after. Worries and phobias about dental care are common and, although you may think you are alone in your phobia, you certainly aren’t. Almost every dental surgery on the planet now offers a caring approach to nervous dental patients and views dental phobias as a serious barrier to dental care. So, when searching for a dental team to oversee your phobia and treatment, how can you make it easier on yourself?
Talk to the team
As mentioned earlier, a key way to make your concerns known (and to take a metaphorical load off from your shoulders) is to talk to your dental team. Remember, the days of the judgemental, bossy dentist Sydney CBD are long gone and today, all dental professionals are trained in a more compassionate, person-centred approach to oral health care. So, by opening up to your dental team, you can help them to help you feel more relaxed, making it an open forum to discuss your fears and requirements.
Ask for a distraction
Does the sound of the drill make you sweat? Again, some dental surgeries are able to offer noiseless drills, but if your dental team doesn’t have this option, ask for a distraction. Or why not bring your own in? Many phobic dental patients find relief listening to music, guided meditations or audiobooks on their phones and if it helps your dental team to do their work, they will certainly oblige to make life easier all round. Alternatively, you could choose a dental surgery that has a television mounted to the wall or ceiling, if you simply need something to watch while your teeth are examined.
Sedation options
Of course, not all phobias are so straightforward and many dental teams are able to offer patients sedative options to get them through check-ups or treatments. The first (and most well-known option) is nitrous oxide or laughing gas. Some dental surgeries are able to offer oral sedatives in the form of benzodiazepine tablets. There is also the option for intravenous sedation or anaesthetic if you feel you need to be more removed from the entire process. Remember, with all sedative methods, you should ensure that you have a friend or family member to escort you home afterwards.
Long-term counselling
Many patients also undertake targeted counselling or psychotherapy in their spare time, to help them get to the root cause of their dental phobia and anxieties. Depending on the dental surgery you choose, they may be able to offer you advice on which counsellors to seek out to get help from. Great stuff!
DISCLAIMER
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
