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Dentists' Gentle Touch: Overcoming Aches, Pains And Fears by Olivia Mandri http://www.fulldentist.com For someone who is very anxious about visiting a dentist, just getting to the dentist's office can feel like an accomplishment. Even though this feeling can be overcome after some gentle coxing, a person who consciously or unconsciously avoids necessary dental work has developed a phobia that requires help from an experienced dentist. Many dentists specialize in treating patients who have dental phobia. Some dental phobics would rather watch their teeth rot and fall out than step inside an office. Unfortunately, many of these behaviors are associated with dental experiences that were very traumatic in childhood. While many phobics know that this behavior is for the most part irrational, the panic symptoms displayed are often worse than the actual thoughts. Some common panic symptoms include: - Uncontrollable shaking - Heart palpations - Fainting - Feelings of nausea Most of these symptoms are related to fearing lack of control in the situation. A great dentist is very familiar with these symptoms and the fear of dentists and knows several ways to help you manage or even overcome your fear. Below are some tips used by caring dentists: 1. Let the dentist know on the phone before your visit that you have a fear of dentists. A sympathetic dentist will then work at your pace, whereby the first visit is for chatting not for surgical treatment. 2. To ease your anxiety and to relieve aches, several techniques can be used during treatment. Oral sedation, general anesthesia, inhalation sedation, psychotherapy and hypnosis are just a few ways. Alpha-Stim SCS is a new relaxation technique that passes an electric wave current through the brain from a hand-held control box connected to ear clips. 3. Several techniques can be used during treatment to ease anxiety and ease pain. Inhalation sedation, oral sedation, general anesthesia, hypnosis and psychotherapy are just a few techniques. Alpha-Stim SCS is a new relaxation practice that allows the patient to send an electric wave current through the brain from a hand-held control box connected to ear clips. 4. Fear is a healthy survival mechanism and is often what a phobic needs to hear to put dental fear into perspective. 5. Dentists who provide knowledge about what they're about to perform can ease a patient who is presuming to experience lots of pain. This knowledge dispels careless statements that the patient may have heard in the past that made the dentist the bad guy like "If you don't behave, I'll take you to the dentist!" 6. A "painless practice" is the objective of a great dental practice. These dentists practice discomfort-reducing techniques. Thus, a patient can choose from several topicals like anesthetic gels and air abrasion units. 7. Ask your dentists as many questions as necessary. Dentists in turn should ask you lots of questions like "Are you feeling this?" or "How are you doing?" A dentist uses these questions to know how fast to proceed or if you want a few minutes to regroup. A compassionate dentist will never force to you continue with dental work if you feel pain. 8. Follow up for a person who has a fear of dentists lets the person know that the dentist really does care. Along with a follow up call, many dentists offer remedies for aches after treatment such as ibuprofen or longer lasting anesthesia. A resource for finding a dentist that specializes in dental phobias is www.1800dentist.com or by calling 1-800-DENTIST. |