Feel anxious visiting a dentist?

Feel anxious visiting a dentist? Fear, anxiety, or stress linked with a dental environment is known as dental anxiety. Fear of going to the dentist might lead to postponing or avoiding dental treatment. Dental anxiety can be triggered by things like needles, drills, or the dental environment in general. And Dental anxiety can be classed as a dental phobia when it is severe and results in irrational dread and avoidance of the dentist.

Dental anxiety can be exacerbated by mental health illnesses such as generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as a history of head and neck trauma. Anxiety disorder can be exacerbated by other disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.

Dental anxiety and fear can be caused by a variety of factors.

A distressing dental event or any healthcare incident can trigger dental anxiety.
past head and neck injuries, as well as other traumatic situations, such as abuse
Anxiety, sadness, or post-traumatic stress disorder are all examples of generalised anxiety.
fear of losing control trust issues the belief that the mouth is a personal space and that accessing it is a breach of personal space

Anxiety can be linked to other conditions like agoraphobia (the dread of being trapped in settings from which you feel helpless), claustrophobia (the fear of enclosed spaces), or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which is characterised by a cleaning fixation.

Dental phobia can impact everyone.

Dental phobia is a prevalent ailment that can afflict people of all ages.

In most situations, children who have had negative dental experiences may overcome their fears if the situation is handled properly and they are carefully cared for and supported during subsequent dental visits. Adults who are nervous about dental care are likely to be anxious for the rest of their lives. Many worried dental patients can locate a dentist who understands their situation and helps them cope with dental visits.

Feel anxious visiting a dentist? How to deal with dental phobia or anxiety

There are a variety of approaches that can be used to assist persons with dental anxiety or phobia. If you have any amount of dental anxiety, it is critical that you inform your dentist.

An open talk about your specific anxiety triggers can aid the dentist in customising a management strategy for you.

Deep breathing, meditation, and distraction are some psychological coping tactics (such as listening to music or the use of devices)
imagery that has been guided
muscular relaxation that is progressive
deciding on a signal to halt the therapy for a break with your dentist (such as raising your left pointer finger or hand)
making use of a weighted blanket (bring your own)

hypnosis.

A referral to a psychologist can also be beneficial. Cognitive behavioural therapy, for example, is a short, targeted therapy that can be quite effective. Relative analgesia (happy gas), anxiety-relieving medicines, conscious sedation (twilight sedation), or general anaesthetic may be used to treat severe dental anxiety or phobia.

Analgesia relative (happy gas)

Feel anxious visiting a dentist? Nitrous oxide, sometimes known as happy gas or laughing gas, can help individuals relax during dental procedures. You wear a mask on your face and breathe a mix of oxygen and nitrous oxide. It takes impact in a matter of minutes and swiftly wears off.

Although you will be calm, you will remain awake. You can chat to the dentist and listen to what they say, but you won’t recall everything when the appointment is over.

The calm sensation produced by nitrous oxide sedation is highly pleasant for most people. When people don’t like the experience it produces, they can investigate other options.

Anti-anxiety medicine is a type of medication that is used to treat anxiety (oral anxiolytic tablets). Dentists and doctors may administer anxiety-relieving (anxiolytic) drugs (such as temazepam) to assist anxious patients relax. One hour before the dentist session, a single short-acting, tiny dose is normally given.

Medication should only be taken after speaking with your dentist or physician. Because you cannot safely drive a car while under the influence of sedative medicine, you will need someone to accompany you to and from your dentist appointment.

Read also: Overcoming phobias