Do dentists make you anxious?
I have a friend who went to a Salt Lake City Dentist early this week. My! She was very anxious that she practically tweeted every single thing that she did from the time she left home, when she arrived at the dental clinic, got prepped by the dental assistant, checked by the dentist, and how happy and relieved she felt when she left the clinic.
Dental anxiety is not uncommon. More than 80% of American adults have a fear of the dentist (the figure is based on a study conducted by the American Association of Endodontists) – and I belong to the majority. I am even a part of the 25% who avoid dental checkups unless they are in pain.
The problem with this type of fear of the dentist is that the more I prolong the inevitable, the more expensive the required dental procedures become. For example, filling that chipped off would have been easier and cheaper to redo than having a dental crown – and less costly too.
Why is it that dentists make most people anxious?
According to research, some people associate dentists with pain. Basically, the fear of the dentist is just a manifestation of agliophobia (fear of pain). Others do not like the feeling of lack of control and vulnerability while sitting in the dentist’s chair while there are some who hate being lectured about their dental habits.
What eases your anxiety when you visit a dentist?
For me, I would like the dental assistant and dentist make me feel comfortable first before doing whatever they needed to do (a small talk about things unrelated to the dental procedure would work). I hate being asked questions when my mouth is opened wide because I don’t know if I’m expected to answer or should I keep my mouth open. I appreciate it if there’s a television where I could focus my attention on during the entire procedure to keep me relaxed and to give me somewhere to look instead of my dentist’s face. And yes, it helps if they will drain the water or saliva from my mouth right away because I don’t want to swallow them.
How about you, are you scared of the dentist? What eases your anxiety when you have a dental appointment? Care to share in the comments section?
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post however, all points and views are 100% mine.
