Fear of the Dentist
Fear of the dentist is a condition that affects many of us, especially if we do not go regularly. It’s quite common for people to avoid the dentist altogether and allow their dental hygiene to go down the tube, as their gums develop gingivitis and teeth begin to decay and abscess.
There are many techniques available today that can help make going to the dentist more comfortable for you by eliminating or lessening your anxiety to a manageable level. A British Dental Association survey concluded that 25% of people were afraid of going to a dentist.
Fear of going to the dentist can be anywhere from a small fear to an overpowering fear. Fearing what you don’t know is the most common fear. A reaction to a known danger like the dental office is very common. 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. Past dental experiences that have caused you extreme pain, results in a condition called dental phobia, which is similar to dental fear but on a higher level.
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)
A dental phobia occurs whenever you have become sensitized to a visit to the dentist, otherwise stated, you have anxiety which is associated with that situation. Panic attacks and extreme anxiety may arise while you are making an appointment or on your way to a physicians office, thus making you feel anxious whenever you are in a similar situation. Being sensitized means that simply thinking about going to the dentist is able to trigger anxiety in you.
After sentisation occurs you may tend to avoid the situation. Repeated avoidance is very satisfying because it allows you to avoid 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.
The third factor that perpetuates fears of going to the dentist, is distorted 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. Negative self talk and a negative self image both propagate the fears you have, which guarantees that you remain fearful. Sometimes your confidence that you’ll overcome your fears is undermined. 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 where Hypnotherapy Plymouth can help you. You will find that Hypnotherapy relieves a wide variety of fears and phobias by implementing peaceful influences.
The first thing to do is to find an understanding dentist and you will find that if you visit regularly you will start to feel very confident, and that confidence will grow stronger every time you visit, and the best thing of all is that you will have lovely white teeth and sweet smelling breath.
A good dentist and great Plymouth hypnotherapist helped to cure me of the fear of the dentist that had bothered me for many years.
If you can find a dentist who has good listening skills, it can really help you start getting over your fears – try asking your friends or co-workers if they know of a dentist who is good with people who have anxiety. It is important that you be able to feel at ease while discussing your fears with your dentist. There are many things a person can do to release 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.
When it comes to Hypnotherapy Plymouth this is one of many issues hynotherapy faces and deals with.
Hypnotherapists utilize various techniques to banish phobias and often also include NLP.
A session for anxiety uses your imagination and relaxation. A typical session begins with breathing techniques, which are followed by turning negative self-talk into a positive way of thinking calmly. You will also use your imagination to feel you are making a telephone appointment, as you are making this imaginary appointment, you are feeling calm and confident which will carry over to the moments before the actual appointment.
You will visualize visiting the dentist for an exam, while feeling secure and strong, and as you imagine dentists and drills you’ll be relaxed and in control, and visualize yourself exiting the clinic with a boost of adrenaline and confidence.
You’ll never have to address the issue again, and you’ll smile more confidently knowing that you can be proud of your teeth and your breath.