Not everyone is comfortable visiting the dentist.
It could be a bad experience from childhood, or just the thought of having treatment that puts you off.
Either way, too many people forego a necessary procedure or don’t visit their dentist regularly enough. The inevitable result is poor oral health.
Working out where the problem lies can often help you overcome your fear, and the British Dental Health Foundation is offering the following information for anyone suffering from dental phobia.
10 FACTS ABOUT DENTAL PHOBIA
1. One in ten people are estimated to suffer from extreme dental anxiety
2. Women are more likely to suffer from extreme dental anxiety than men
3. The most common fears for visiting a dentist are having a tooth drilled (30%) and having a local anaesthetic injection (28%)
4. You are not born with a fear of the dentist. You develop it and can overcome it
5. Exposure to the sights and surroundings of the dental practice, as a child, will help avoid dental anxiety in adulthood
6. Modern dentistry has evolved to such an extent that it can be almost pain-free
7. Some practices specialise in treating nervous patients. It is worth asking to find your nearest practice
8. Relaxation and sedation techniques have been proven in helping to overcome dental phobia.
9. Around 56% of the population have visited an NHS dentist in the past two years
10. Around 2% of the population have never visited a dentist.
5 TIPS TO OVERCOME DENTAL PHOBIA
In addition to the Foundation’s three golden rules for good oral health, the following tips are recommended for dealing with dental phobia:
1. It might be useful to talk to someone and even see the practice before your appointment. Taking a friend and listening to music might help to relax any tension you have
2. Make sure your dentist knows you are a nervous patient, including what you most dislike about treatment
3. Book an appointment at a time of day you feel most comfortable with
4. Before treatment begins, agree a signal with your dentist that means ‘stop’ in case you need a break
5. Contact one of the Dental phobia support networks such as www.dentalphobia.co.uk/
For free, confidential and impartial advice about how to improve your oral care, contact the Foundation’s Dental Helpline on 0845 063 1188 or email [email protected]
Alternatively, visit the Tell Me About section of the Foundation’s website at www.dentalhealth.org/tell-me-about/topic/routine-treatment/my-fear-of-the-dentist