by Jane Allyson

Created on: May 27, 2007   Last Updated: August 04, 2009

There are number of reasons why people have a fear of the dentist. One of the most common ones is a fear of pain or having an injection. Another common one is the sense of not being in control or a sense of having their personal zone invaded.

There are other factors at the back of the mind which could be exasperating the problem. Perhaps could that trip to the dentist, although necessary, is causing financial hardship made worse by having to have the time off work. You may be embarrassed about your dental problems or the sounds of the office can be very distracting. Many people have good reason to fear the dentist , especially if they have already had a particularly bad experience in the past.

One thing to remember is that although your dentist will do all he can to reassure you and try and keep you calm during your treatment, he is merely there do provide a service. It is best to resolve any issues before you go in for appointment or at least practice your relaxation techniques whilst you are in the chair. However, saying that, your dentist has been specially trained at helping to put people at their ease. Believe me, they hate being the cause of anyone's distress, and the worst situation for a dentist to be in is if he has to treat a person who is knotted up like a pretzel, and flinches every time they are touched in any way.

One factor to help you get over your fear must be the knowledge that the dentist is on your side. He no more wants to hurt you than you want to be hurt, so what are you going to do? One of the things is to respond to your dentist in a positive way when he greets you. He is working hard to build up a rapport so don't push him away because he is trying to help.

Try to empty your mind when you get up on the chair. You are no different to anyone else who has sat there before. You will have your problems and impending treatment explained to you in great detail and this must help, because at least you know exactly what to expect. After all, part of being afraid is a fear of the unknown. You have been soothed and spoken to nicely by the office staff, who asked if you were comfortable, offered you a coffee, and gave you a magazine to read whilst you waited. So everyone is on your side.

Remain calm. Relax and think of somewhere really lovely that you would like to be at that moment. Take deep regular breaths and totally focus your mind. You are in control. Your dentist tells you that at any time you feel discomfort you can raise your hand and he will stop immediately. You will be constantly asked if you are OK and the dentist will do all he can to let you know that you can stop him doing the treatment at any time.

Sometimes a patient may feel the need to take medication either by mouth or intravenously, but it bumps up the cost of the dental treatment. Nitrous Oxide gas which is safe and also effective can also be given, but be assured, these methods are for emergency only. A dentist would rather deal with fears by using methods of trust, touch, reassurance, humor, and reminding the patient that they are in control. They can also ally fear by providing good information and being really understanding about any anxieties.

In conclusion, it may help to remember that the feeling of fear is a result of a signal from your brain telling you that you may be potentially hurt. So when you sit in the chair, and the electric drill starts whining, you get an overwhelming feeling of dread run through your body and a great urge to run out of the office. Don't worry; it is just your brain trying to protect you again.

Take a deep breath and tell yourself that everything will be all right.

Learn more about this author, Jane Allyson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.