Teach Middle East Magazine September 2014 Issue 1 Vol. 2 | Page 41

Dentistry

GET OVER YOUR FEAR OF
THE DENTIST’S CHAIR
By Dr Kaizad Kermani

O

ver time a number of people
have developed a somewhat
unhealthy fear of visiting the
dentist. Overcoming this fear is
imperative to one enjoying good dental
health. If you are a parent your attitude
towards dentist visits is also vital if
your children are to develop a positive
outlook on dental hygiene and visits to
the dentist.
According to American psychiatrist,
Karl Augustus Menninger, “Fears are
educated into us and can, if we wish, be
educated out.”
Fear is often a reaction to the unknown
and that might be related to episodes
in the past such as an unpleasant
or painful experience related to a
procedure. Often such a procedure
may have been unanticipated or where
a patient felt unable to control the
situation. However, some people have
anxiety or mood disorders associated
with issues such as domestic violence,
substance abuse, etc., which may also
reflect as fear towards the dentist.
Serious dental anxiety prevents
millions of people across the world from
seeking proper dental care. Most often,
preventative care is all that is required.
It is for this reason that the American
Dental Association (ADA) recommends
dental check ups from the time that the
first few neonatal (baby) teeth erupt.

closer to dealing with what the real
issues are.

a locally applied anesthetic gel or
solution that numbs the area before
the injection is given.

• Discuss your concerns with your
dentist in an uninhibited manner.
Aim to understand the procedure
being
performed,
techniques
involved, options of treatment and
the possible outcome. Talking about
these issues prior to the procedure
may help to ease your anxiety and
reduce stress during the procedure.

• Allow the dentist to consider sedation
as a means of overcoming anxiety.
The use of a sedative can make
a procedure, such as extraction
of wisdom teeth, more bearable.
Available are various types of
sedation such as inhalation and
intravenous sedation, which can be
used, to support the procedure to be
performed.

• Be assertive without overstepping
the line. When talking to the dentist
about any anxieties you may
have, be friendly without being too
personal and enable the dentist to
know how he or she can help you to
feel more comfortable.
• Ask for soothing music as a means
of distraction. You can even listen to
your own music while waiting. It also
helps to take advantage of visual
aids such as reading a pleasant
book or magazine.
• Have positive thoughts. There is very
little, if any, pain associated with any
procedure performed at a dental
office.
Anesthetics are normally
used to completely numb the area
being treated. Dentists even offer

• Finally, consider seeing a psychologist,
psychiatrist or even a counsellor
to discuss therapies such as
desensitisation, which help with true
phobias.
The practice of Dentistry has evolved
from an era where a visit to a dentist
was associated with pain, to one with
a welcoming ambience with hardly any
pain but rather a relaxing experience.
Your dental health is vital to your overall
well-being. Don’t let fear keep you from
enjoying excellent oral health. Make an
appointment to see your dentist today.

Although there is only a small percentage
of people who avoid dentists mainly out
of fear. There is a higher percentage of
people who experience anxiety about
going to the dentist. These people tend
to visit the dentist only when absolutely
necessary.
Here are some simple tips to help
overcome fear of the dentist:
• Uncover the cause of your fear for
the dentist. Is it needles, or is it
the sound of the drill? Do you fear
the possibility of pain; or is it fear
of picking up an infection? Once
you have asked yourself these
questions, you will be one step
After The Bell

September 2014

39