Overcoming Apprehension about the Dentist
Fear of the dentist is a condition that affects many of us, especially if we do not go regularly. Many people get so anxious that their oral health suffers, gums become infected, chronic gum disease starts, teeth begin to decay and abscesses form.
There are many methods used nowadays that help overcome the anxiety associated with dentist visits. A survey by the British Dental Association found that 25% of people feared visiting the dentist.
People are afraid of the dentist at different levels. Keep in mind with facing dentist’s fears that the most common fear is the unkown. 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)
When a person learns to associate their extreme anxiety to the dentist or the dentist’s office, a dental phobia results. 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. The very thought of going to the dentist might be sufficient to cause anxiety, which is the definition of becoming sensitized.
If the sensitive feeling subsides your natural reaction may be to forget that it ever happened. Repeated avoidance is very satisfying because it allows you to avoid anxiety. The best way to hang on to your phobias or fears is to avoid them altogether. This holds you back from getting a grip on them.
A third element that sustains a person’t fear of the dentist is distorted and unrealistic self talk. The more apprehensive you are about your phobias, the more likely that you will be telling yourself negative things about said phobia. Realize you may experience fear or other negative ideas about going to the dentists. If you are trying to deal with dentists fears just keep in mind that self talk and negative images only help fuel your fears keeping you afaraid. 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.
Hypnotherapy can assist you with this. You will find that Hypnotherapy relieves a wide variety of fears and phobias by implementing peaceful influences.
The first order of business is the location of an understanding dentist. In making regular visits, you will find that each one strengthens your confidence. Best of all, your teeth will be attractive and white and your breath will smell sweet.
I can honestly say that I suffered dental phobia for years, until I found a wonderful dentist and a good hypnotherapist who cured me of my fears.
Ask for recommendations from friends and acquaintances for a dentist who works with nervous patients. A patient dentist who listens to your feelings will be helpful for anyone suffering from dental anxiety. It’s vital to discuss both the fears and concerns you have with your dentist and that you are comfortable doing so. There are many approaches he/she can use to relieve your anxiety.
Explaining the procedures
You might also say to yourself, how can hypnosis help me to get rid of my phobia?
That’s one of the many problems hypnotherapy deals with.
Hypnotherapists utilize various techniques to banish phobias and often also include NLP. You will start the session by learning how to use positive,calm thinking and by imagining yourself going through the process a step at a time while remaining calmand collected enough to get through any procedure. 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.
You’ll experience a terrific feeling, realizing you’ll never need to dodge the matter another time, and you’l beam with the realization that you are showing off your pearly whites and fragrant fresh breath.
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