8 Techniques Used By Dentists To Help Phobic Patients Manage Visits
By Olivia Mandri
For someone who is very anxious about visiting a dentist, just getting to the dentist's office can feel like an accomplishment. Even though this feeling can be overcome after some gentle coxing, a person who consciously or unconsciously avoids necessary dental work has developed a phobia that requires help from an experienced dentist. Many dentists specialize in treating patients who have dental phobia.
Some phobics would rather watch their teeth fall apart or live with pain than to step inside a dental office. Unfortunately, many of these fears began after a bad childhood dental experience. Even though many phobics know their fears are irrational, the strength to get past the symptoms is harder than the actually thinking about what will happen. Some panic symptoms are as follows uncontrollable shaking, heart palpations, fainting and feelings of nausea
Most dental phobics feel this way because they worry about loosing control of the situation. Dentists are very familiar with these symptoms and are trained in ways to assist a patient in overcoming these sensations. Below are ways that experienced dentists help a patient manage the situation:
1. Let the dentist know on the phone before your visit that you have a fear of dentists. A sympathetic dentist will then work at your pace, whereby the first visit is for chatting not for surgical treatment.
2. While treatment is taking place, several techniques can be administered to ease your anxiousness and relieve aches. These methods include oral sedation, inhalation sedation, general anesthesia, hypnosis and psychotherapy. Very anxious patients can also receive aid from a new treatment called the Alpha-Stim SCS, a hand-held control box with ear clips that passes an electric wave current through the brain to produce a feeling of relaxation.
3. Several techniques can be used during treatment to ease anxiety and ease pain. Inhalation sedation, oral sedation, general anesthesia, hypnosis and psychotherapy are just a few techniques. Alpha-Stim SCS is a new relaxation practice that allows the patient to send an electric wave current through the brain from a hand-held control box connected to ear clips.
4. Fear is a healthy survival mechanism and is often what a phobic needs to hear to put dental fear into perspective.
5. In many ways, the knowledge about what is actually going to take place rather than presumptions about potential pain is very much a sigh of relief. Ir's no surprise that if all someone hears is "If you don't behave, I'll take you to the dentist!" then that person soon builds preconceived notions that the dentist's must be a bad place.
6. A great dentist takes pride in operating a "painless practice". These dentists use many discomfort reducing techniques that are often topical such as anesthetic gels and air abrasion units.
7. Just as you should feel comfortable to ask as many questions as necessary, a dentist too should ask you questions. Questions like "How are you doing?" or "Are you feeling this?" allow the dentist to know how fast to proceed or if you need a few minutes. No compassionate dentist will proceed if you're feeling pain.
8. A dental office follow up call lets patients know that the dentist cares. Other ways that dentists follow up is with painkillers like ibuprofen or long-lasting anesthesia. About the Author Copyright 2006 Olivia Mandri. All rights reserved.
Olivia Mandri runs the new website
Full Dentist which
helps people have a more positive experience of dentist services.
Visit http://www.fulldentist.com/newsletters/
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