The dental implant procedure is a very complex procedure which can understandably produce some anxiety in patients. For some patients, this anxiety can be heightened based on certain childhood experiences. This fear of the dentist is known as dental phobia. There are various ways that this anxiety can be reduced. This article will describe some things that your dentist should do to help you through your dental implant surgery.
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What is dental phobia?
Dental phobia is a term used to describe the fear and anxiety associated with visiting the dentist. Other terms used to describe this fear are dentist phobia, dentaphobia, and ordontophobia. This fear of visiting the dentist is often rooted in childhood experiences which may have left us in pain and distress. We are all aware of the stereotypical image of the dentist who enjoys causing pain. The rational adult side of us knows this is not the case but this rational justification doesn’t help to take away the worry and anxiety that the mere mention of a trip to the dentist can cause.
How can I stop my dental phobia?
There are various ways in which you can take control of your anxiety.
Knowledge
Anxiety is often rooted in a fear of the unknown. You can help yourself get through your procedure by educating yourself on all the ins and out and risks of your dental implant procedure. There is a vast array of information available in the public domain. The more you know the better able you will be to cope with the surgery
Relax
Some people find it difficult to relax in the dentist’s chair which can heighten anxiety levels. If you are mentally tense then you will be physically tense so one of the easiest ways to combat stress is through body relaxation methods. Diaphragmatic breathing exercises and certain yoga techniques can all help to combat stress and anxiety.
Distraction
Distracting yourself from what is happening in front of you is a method recommended by many clinics to help to relax you mentally. A lot of clinics now recommend the use of personal music devices to help keep you mentally relaxed during your procedure. Many offices are now equipped with Virtual Reality-like glasses. These glasses provide a visual and auditory distraction from your procedure and allow you to watch a video during your procedure.
Communication
Empowering yourself with as much information as possible about your dental implants is the best way to combat anxiety. Your dentist can help put you at ease by explaining the full procedure including the risks and the possible complications. Once you are fully prepared and armed with as much information as possible you will find that the procedure seems a lot less daunting. Remember that the communication goes both ways so ask as many questions as you can. A good dentist should give you all the information necessary to make you feel at ease about your procedure.
Distraction techniques
Some clinics will employ distraction techniques to relax your mind during your procedure. These techniques include allowing you to listen to your choice of music or some clinics have visual- audio equipment which allows you to watch a video during your procedure. If you feel that distraction techniques will help you cope with your procedure then find a clinic which uses distraction methods for its patients and asks what they can do for you.
Sedation
Predictable pain control techniques are used during a lot of procedures but some dentists are attracting patients with dental phobia by offering to sedate them during their procedure. This sedation will make you feel sleepy but will not always put you to sleep. The sedation will lead to a painless procedure for you thus making your dentist’s job easier and leading to a better procedure.
After reading this article you should now have a better understanding of the methods which can be employed by your dentist to combat dental phobia. If you have dental phobia there are also things which you can do personally to make you feel more comfortable during the procedure.