How do you feel the night before a visit to the dentist? How do you feel when you’re in your dentist’s waiting room? These are just some of the questions posed by Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale , the standard for measuring ondontophobia (fear of the dentist). It’s a fascinating questionnaire and worth a look.
Research in the US has found that 75% of people suffer from some kind of dental anxiety. Here are a few suggestions for dealing with it so your next visit to the dentist is less stressful.
Look after your teeth
This is, by far, the best thing you can do. The more diligent you are about brushing and flossing, the breezier and easier your next visit to the dentist will be.
Bring a friend with you
Having someone to talk to as you wait for your name to be called will help take your mind off your anxiety. If they’re a good friend, they’ll come prepared with discussion topics or a deck of cards.
Trust the technology
Dentistry has come a long way over the years, and new methods have made even the most intimidating procedures fast and comfortable.
Ask questions
Understanding what each piece of equipment you see in your dentist’s office does may help put your mind at ease. If you need to visualize a procedure before you have it, get your dentist to demonstrate on a mold of a mouth before they begin.
Let the embarrassment go
No matter how bad you think your teeth are THEY’RE NOT!!!!!
If you’ve let your fear keep you from booking a visit to the dentist, there’s no time like the present to slay the dragon.
