Going to the dentist can make a lot of people nervous. Dental anxiety isn’t limited to the fear of pain. Dental anxiety, often known as dental phobia, can result in nausea, breathing difficulty, panic attacks, and even faintness.
DENTAL PHOBIA IN A GIST
WHAT CAUSES PHOBIA?
Anxiety and dental phobia are often caused by a variety of factors. These are some of them:
- Embarrassment – Patients who haven’t maintained their teeth are ashamed of the possible smell or appearance of their teeth.
- Feeling helpless – Given the circumstances, it’s easy to feel like you aren’t in control. If you’re the type of person who likes to plan things so you have control over what you’re doing, it’s always worth bearing in mind that not everything is under your control.
- Fear of negative consequences – Dizziness, faintness, and nausea are all common concerns. Some people despise the “fat lip” numbness or sensation that follows after a local anesthetic is given.
- Trypanophobia – It is commonly known as the fear of needles or injections. Others are concerned about getting pierced or injected, while others are afraid that the anesthetic will not be effective enough to relieve pain before the procedure begins.
- Algophobia – The majority of individuals who postpone visiting the dentist do so due to this reason, the fear of extreme physical pain. It’s frequently due to a horrible dental experience as a kid or hearing other patients’ stories of “pain and terror.”
OVERCOMING PHOBIA AND DENTAL ANXIETY
Here are some suggestions to help you overcome your apprehensions before visiting the dentist:
- Examine the source of your anxiety. You’ll be able to see what has to be changed if you know what you’re afraid of.
- Choose a dentist who is compassionate! If the dentist doesn’t seem to care about your concerns, they’ll just get worse. As a result, it would be preferable if you were picky when looking for a dentist.
- Inquire about how patients feel when they are in pain. You might find it beneficial to learn how someone else felt after undergoing the same surgery. Some people may even claim that they don’t feel a thing.
- Don’t be afraid to ask about sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry is fantastic for people who have dental anxiety and phobia.
PHOBIA TREATMENT AT THE DENTIST
Sedation dentistry is a type of dental treatment that uses sedatives to sedate patients before or during the procedure. Only general anesthesia can get the patient entirely unconscious. Others will only help them unwind or relax.
The following are some of the most commonly prescribed sedatives:
- Nitrous Oxide – This gas has a calming effect on the patient during surgery. It fades quickly, so you should be able to drive yourself or go to work.
- Oral Sedatives – These will assist you in unwinding or relaxing during your dental operation. The surgeon will provide you with an anesthetic in the operating room. You’ll spend about an hour there before your appointment. You’ll be groggy and weary, but you won’t be as anxious.
- Intravenous Sedatives – IV sedatives can help you go through the phases of awareness. The medication will put you to sleep until the therapy is finished. Aside from general anesthesia, other IV drugs may make you feel drowsy and less aware of your surroundings, but it will be more of a “twilight slumber.”
