Many of us have those jitters and goosebumps when someone says the word “dentist”. The very thought of visiting even the best dentist in Houston can bring a very uncomfortable and uneasy feeling. The very thought of someone exploring your teeth, gums, and mouth can be very unnerving. Some people tend to get so paranoid and panic-stricken by the very thought of paying a visit to the dentist that they keep finding an excuse to avoid the visit to such an extent that even a small dental problem may get aggravated and can have serious implications.
This can also lead to many other repercussions and can also require more complicated procedures involving several sittings with the dentist. A delay in a visit to the dentist can also affect a person’s self-esteem making him/her conscious about their appearance and smile and can hamper the overall personality.
Dental Anxiety
A condition where a person tends to have a feeling of nervousness, fear, discomfort and may even have panic attacks at the need of a dentist. There are many instances where this can be seen.
- Pain becomes so severe that the visit to the dentist cannot be avoided.
- The damage becomes so intense that it requires immediate attention from the dentist.
This can also lead to many health and oral conditions. Some of them are diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, premature babies, and babies having low birth rates.
Best dental care can help in preventing many major health problems. Periodic examinations, dental check-ups, and cleaning can help in preventing extensive damage to the teeth.
Symptoms
- Many symptoms of dental anxiety include
- Low blood pressure
- Panic attacks
- Hot flushes
- Shaking
- Difficulty in sleeping before a dental examination
- Difficulty in breathing
- Fainting
- Withdrawal
- Palpitations
- Increased heart rates
- Sweating
- Feeling of crying
- Agitation
In case visiting the dentist has been delayed for a long time, the above health outcomes can become more severe.
To overcome this level of anxiety and create a feeling of calmness there are many tools as well as methods available within the dental clinic and outside which can help you cope with anxiety levels before a dental appointment.
Causes
The feeling of fear, anxiety or any kind of phobia about the visit to a dentist may just be present in the mind, but there can be experiences, feelings, or events which may have triggered them whether they are associated with a dentist or not.
Every individual is different who comes to a dentist with their own problems. These problems are the main cause of any kind of fear or perception regarding a dental visit. You will be able to deal with these problems in a better way if you can understand your reasons for anxiety and fear.
Some of the reasons for people fearing a dentist and trying to avoid them are
- Many people have a feeling of discomfort when a stranger tries to embark on their personal space.
- A lot of patients have a fear that they may not be able to bear extreme pain in case the anesthesia does not have its desired effect or the side effects such as nausea, dizziness, increased thirst, excessive drooling, pain in the neck, ears, muscles, and joints.
- Negative experiences of the past could have been with a prior dentist or watching a disturbing movie involving a dentist.
- Fear of dental tools and sounds
Anxiety Control Tips
- Following a regular dental routine of brushing teeth twice a day and flossing, eating a healthy diet, reducing the intake of sugary food and drinks, and replacing your toothbrush every quarter.
- Enquire with the dentist about the tools and other resources which are available to get acquainted to reduce stress levels
- Meditating and mindfulness practices will help you calm your mind
- Practicing visualization
A visit to the dentist can be an overwhelming experience and experiencing dental anxiety is very natural. This generally happens when one visits a dentist, as an individual is not aware of what the dentist will look for while examining their mouth and if there can be more complications that will make things difficult for them.
So, it is important that one gets a regular check with the best dentist in Houston TX as it will not only help you maintain overall dental health but also make you acquainted with the clinic and the tools that are used in a dental clinic. This will help you better deal with dental anxiety and help you get better care preventing any dental problems that may reach the worst.
Above is detailed research on dental anxiety and how you can cope with it. It will help you understand what dental anxiety is, the symptoms and causes of it, and how you can control the anxiety.
When you are making the next dental appointment for the best dental services, relax and go with an open mind. Talk to your dentist and seek answers to all the questions that worry you.
All the best!
