Fear of the Dentist
Being afraid to visit the dentist, especially if such visits are rare, is an affliction many individuals have. A lot of people get so worried that their oral health declines, causing gum infections, gum disease, tooth cavities and abscesses.
To-day there are many methods and techniques to help overcome anxiety so that going to the dentist becomes more comfortable. The British Dental Association conducted a study which determined that one-quarter of people harbored a fear of going to the dentist.
People are afraid of the dentist at different levels. The most common is a fear of the unknown. The next is dental fear, which is a reaction to a known danger. Some worries may include reliving a bad experience that you had when you were young, feeling intense pain, or even getting sick to your stomach. The highest level is dental phobia which is similar to dental fear but much worse, and it is also the result of unpleasant past experiences, which usually caused you pain.
So what may you be frightened of?
A fear of needles
A fear of dental instruments in your mouth
The worry you might vomit
Unsympathetic dentists
Bad childhood experiences
Fear of the drill
Fear of anaesthetic
Feeling vulnerable
There are three factors that tend to keep your fear of the dentist going.
Sensitisation (you find it difficult going to the dentist)
Avoidance (you stop going to the dentist)
Negative, distorted self talk (which terrifies you)
Anxiety that becomes associated with going to the dentist, for instance, hardens into a fear of the dentist. If panic suddenly arises while you pick up the phone to make the appointment, or when you are on your way to the dentists, you may start feeling anxious every time you’re in one of these situations. Sensitization means that just thinking of the dentist can immediately make you anxious.
Once you experience sensitivity you might be inclined to avoid the circumstance. A person learns to feel good about avoiding the dentist because it saves them from intense anxiety. Avoidance is the most powerful way to hold on to a phobia or fear, because it prevents you from ever learning that you can handle it.
A third element that sustains a person’t fear of the dentist is distorted and unrealistic self talk. The greater the anxiety you feel in anticipation of the object of your fear, the greater the likelihood that you will have an unproductive inner conversation about it. You might harbor additional bad images about potential scenarios at the dentist, or imagine the worst that could happen. Both the negative self talk and negative image serve to perpetuate your fears, guaranteeing that you remain afraid. They also sap your confidence by making you feel that you may never be able to overcome your fear. By not talking yourself out of it and having a fearful imagination you would be more apt to conquer your evasion and go to the dentists confidently.
This is an area in which Hypnotherapy Plymouth can be of use to you. You will find that Hypnotherapy relieves a wide variety of fears and phobias by implementing peaceful influences.
First you must locate a considerate dentist, and you’ll discover with regular appointments you’ll begin to experience confidence, which will increase with every visit. The icing on the cake is that you’ll gain a pearly white smile and fresher breath.
My extreme dental phobia was finally cured once I found a good Plymouth hynotherapist that could relieve my dental fears and a great dentist that understood these fears.
Ask your friends if the can recommend a dentist who is a good listener and good with dealing with anxious patients. It is also important that you can talk about your fears and concerns with your dentist and feel at ease doing this. There are many approaches he/she can use to relieve your anxiety.
Relaxation and distraction techniques
Pain free injection
Sedation
Listening carefully to you, giving you time
Explaining the procedures
You may wonder if hypnosis is the way for you to conquer your fear.
This is only one of many issues which Hypnotherapy Plymouth can help a person to deal with.
Hypnotherapists utilize a variety of means to help cure you of your phobia, often including NLP.
The session will generally be begun with relaxation and breathing techniques, and then therapy regarding changing negative self talk to more positive and settled thinking. You will also picture the process of telephoning in an appointment, imagining your own calm and confidence as you perform the act, as well as your composure in the time directly before the appointment.
You will imagine going into the dental surgery for a check up, all the time feeling strong and safe, and when you think of dentists and drills you will feel calm and in control, and you will see yourself leaving the surgery feeling a surge of confidence and elation.
Knowing that you’ll never have to be afraid again will make you feel fantastic, and now you’ll have clean white teeth and nice breath.
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November 20th, 2008 at 11:27 am
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