What Is Dental Anxiety And What Can You Do About It?
There are a number of people out there who aren't enthusiastic about going to the dentist's office, but there's a difference between simply avoiding the dentist and being afraid of going there. If you've experienced nervousness, fear, or anxiety leading up to a dental appointment in the past, especially if it's caused you to cancel appointments, you should read this guide to find out more about this condition and what you can do to combat it.
Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety and dental phobia are two different things, but they do have similarities. Both of these conditions cause stress and anxiety leading up to and during a dental appointment. Dental anxiety is the lesser condition of the two, as patients can often push through the nervousness and go to an appointment when they absolutely have to. It's not quite as easy for those who have a genuine phobia. Whether you have either of these conditions, however, there's ways to work around it in order to get the dental care you need.
Possible Solutions
Over the long-term, there are a few options for you regarding your anxiety. For example, you could talk to your general physician about getting a tranquilizer for the day of your appointment. This medication can be administered orally just before settling in, which can help to ease your nerves and make you feel more comfortable during the appointment. However, your doctor may or may not be willing to supply these medications depending upon your medical conditions and overall health.
Another way is to start working with a therapist. Therapists can help you to unravel the source of your nervousness and start combatting it at the source. However, neither of these solutions are guaranteed or necessarily quick. There's a better option, though.
Best Choice
If you need dental care, especially if it's urgent, one of the best things you can do is to go to a dentist that offers sedation dentistry. This is a type of dentistry especially intended for those who experience stress and anxiety during dentist visits. Your dentist will administer a medication either via IV or through a breathing mask that will help you to calm down and feel at ease. Many people report feeling as though they're dreaming the events of being at the dentist's office, which makes it less stressful both during and after your care. This is one of the best options you can choose because it doesn't require setting up secondary appointments with other doctors or long periods of therapy in order to just get dental care. If you've been putting off seeing the dentist and know that you need to go, set up an appointment with a sedation dentist for gentle care and stress relief.