Things To Do When You Hate Visiting The Dentist
Do you hate going to the dentist? Do you wish that you could skip your appointments forever and still have good teeth? Unfortunately, dentists are a necessary part of having a healthy mouth. Without regular dental checkups, you won't be able to head off any small issues before they become huge problems. But even if you know that logically, there are still reasons why many people hate going to the dentist. There are, however, things that you can do to make the experience more pleasant. Depending on why you hate the dentist, here are some options:
Pain management: While a little discomfort or pain is sometimes unavoidable, visiting the dentist shouldn't be excruciating. What you may not realize is that different people have different reactions to anesthetics. Some patients may get one dose of anesthetics and have their mouth feel numb for the rest of the day while others may get the same dose and have only minor relief from pain. If you're in the latter group, the answer may be as simple as asking the dentist for another dose of anesthetic. Or it could be that a different type of anesthetic would work better on you. Since so many people expect pain when they visit the dentist, they may be reluctant to bring this up. Don't be one of those people. You're the only one who knows how much discomfort you're willing to put up with.
Needles: Quite a few people have a fear of needles, so much so that they avoid going to the dentist for long periods of time. They then need a lot of work done, which can sometimes require multiple shots, which then drives them away from the dentist again. While needles can be scary, don't let them keep you from getting the dental care that you need. The more often you visit the dentist, the less likely it is that you'll need extensive work done. You can also look for a dentist who does minimally invasive dentistry which causes little enough discomfort that you may not need any anesthetic at all.
Drilling: The sound of a dental drill can have the ability to cause discomfort, even if it's not actually being used on your teeth at the time. But if you haven't been to the dentist in a while, you may be surprised at how quiet modern drills are when compared to what you were expecting. A good dentist will also allow you to wear headphones or earbuds to help block out the sounds of the drill and help you forget that you're even at the dentist in the first place.
For more information, contact companies like Premier Dental Group.