How can you Alleviate Dental Fear?

There are a number of treatments that your dentist can administer which are meant to lessen your discomfort or dental anxiety. Nevertheless, there are always some other methods that you can try for yourself to get you calm and ready for your next dental appointment.

In many cases, a fear of the dentist manifests during childhood. Among the top contributors to dental anxiety and phobia include pain and the sound of the dental drill. Fortunately, there are several steps parents can take to prevent their child from developing a fear of the dentist.

Most fears develop because of the unknown. With that in mind, taking your child to a dentist early can help make him feel at home in a dental office and helps establish trust between your child and dentist, lowering the chances of anxiety from developing.

Take an encouraging tone when talking to your child about a trip to the dentist, but avoid using words like “drill” or “pain”, even if used in a positive or reassuring way (“it won’t hurt”). Instead, try to emphasize the reason why your child needs to see the dentist in the first place: strong, healthy teeth.

If it is already too late and you or your child already suffer from a fear of the dentist, you may want to see an experienced sedation dentist. The use of sedatives for dental procedures is a safe and effective way of alleviating dental fears, allowing you to receive the proper dental care you deserve.