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Fear of the dentist

Being afraid of the dentist is not uncommon. A quarter of the Dutch population is afraid of the dentist. About 800.000 Dutch people are so afraid that they no longer dare to go (dental phobia). There is a good chance that they will develop problems with their teeth, molars and gums in the long run. Fortunately, there is something that can be done about this fear.

Causes of dental anxiety

The causes of fear of the dentist can be very different and often go back to childhood. In many cases, someone with anxiety has had to endure a lot at the (school) dentist. In other cases, the fear is passed on from the parents or comes from "horror stories" at school.

Fortunately, most people who dread going to the dentist do. Yet they remain afraid of the drill or the anesthetic injection. Others fear the pain and constantly think the dentist is going to pierce a nerve or their tongue.

Preventing anxiety at a young age

To minimize anxiety later in life, it is important that you take your child to the dentist as early as possible. Research shows that the sooner a child gets used to the dentist, the less likely it is that anxiety will develop later on.
Some tips for your child's treatment:

  • It is good for young children if one of the parents is present during the check-up or treatment. Older children can try to do it on their own. This gives them more confidence.
  • Do you stay with it as a parent? Leave as much as possible to the dentist. Don't make false promises, such as, "You feel absolutely nothing." If it still hurts, your child may feel betrayed.
  • You can reward your child if he keeps up. Give it a small present, let it stay up an hour longer or come up with something else fun. Always reward afterwards and don't promise anything in advance ("If you do what the dentist says, you get....."). This often leads to difficult negotiations with the child.

Tips for anxiety

Dental technology has been highly developed in recent years. The ghost stories of the past are long gone. In principle, everything can now be done virtually painlessly.

  • Some tips to reduce your anxiety:
  • Whatever the cause of your fear, create an atmosphere of mutual trust between you and your dentist
  • If you are afraid of undergoing treatment, talk to your dentist about it. He is then prepared for it and can possibly take extra time for you.
  • Be informed about the type of treatments that await you, about what will happen and why. Consider whether it is more comfortable for you to look with a mirror during the treatment, if possible.
  • Do you fear pain? Then insist on being sedated.
  • Everyone needs control. Therefore, agree a sign with the dentist, such as raising your hand, on which the dentist can interrupt the treatment. This gives you the feeling that you are in control of some of the treatment.
  • Try to see if you can benefit from relaxation or breathing exercises. Distraction often helps even better. If possible, ask for music, making every effort to listen to it carefully. If your attention for the treatment is less, any unpleasant feeling will be less.
  • If your dentist does not understand your fear, do not be ashamed and if necessary find another dentist. One that explains and shows understanding for you and your wishes.

Tips for people with a dental phobia

If you often postpone a visit to the dentist for a long time, the teeth will deteriorate visibly. Bad teeth are certainly not good for your self-confidence and your social life. You may realize more and more that everything needs to be done to your teeth, which means that the threshold is getting higher and higher. So you will have to do something about the fear. And that sooner rather than later. Then it is better to do this as soon as possible, because the damage is always less than if you delay it even longer. A number of things are important here:

  • Talk to others about it. Use the help of others to motivate you and find the right help. They can support you in an important step: the beginning of the restoration of your teeth and the end of the misery.
  • Ask about other people's experiences with their dentist. Who is known for being nice, who takes the time to reassure people and is good with children? This way you can find a nice dentist in your area.
  • It is important that you make the first appointment yourself. Make an appointment for a dental check-up, but agree with the dentist that nothing will be done the first time. The first time is to get acquainted and to find out if there is a personal click.
  • Enlist others to help you keep your appointment. They can continue to motivate you to go anyway (pick up in the morning with breakfast), to bring you (and make sure you don't take another exit at the last minute) and to give you to support the visit or, if necessary, to speak if necessary.
  • Prepare well for the appointment with the dentist. What do you want and what do you definitely not want? Do you have any preferences on how dentists should treat you or other relevant information (X-rays etc.)? Then make sure that the new dentist receives that information. If you're afraid you'll forget to tell them, write this information down.

sedatives

Some dentists use sedatives. These sedatives, such as nitrous oxide, can help you relax during your dental visit. They are often used in combination with a local anaesthetic. Dentists also use these agents to achieve minimal anaesthesia. This means you are in a relaxed state during the treatment, but you can respond if the dentist asks you something.

Sedatives can be administered before, during or after treatment and can be administered orally, by inhalation or by injection.

What do we do to help you?

What do we do to help you?

  • Extra time: If you are familiar with anxiety symptoms or a dental phobia, please let us know! We reserve extra time so that the dentist can guide you during the treatment. The dentist tells you what will happen and why.
  • Anesthesia: Do you look up to the pain? The dentist can give you an anesthetic.
  • Check: You can agree a sign with the dentist, such as raising your hand, on which the dentist can interrupt the treatment. This gives you the feeling that you are in control of some of the treatment. This gives a feeling of control and often helps to relax during the treatment. The more you relax, the more pleasant the treatment will be.
  • Distraction: Distraction often helps, so we can ensure that you hear music during the treatment. When you focus on the music, your attention to the treatment will be less, so you will experience the treatment as more pleasant
  • Treat with nitrous oxide

Source: KNMT, Allesoverhetgebit.nl

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