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Dentist Fear |
According to Wiki, dentist fear is associated with anxiety or a phobia. The phobia had traditionally been defined as both irrational and exaggerated. But, some studies have shown that the fear is neither irrational nor exaggerated. While controversy continues to exist with regards to whether dental fear is "irrational", as it is most commonly caused by previous bad experiences, there appear to be several subtypes of dental phobia. For example "fear of dentists" versus "fear of specific dental procedures", needle phobia, and phobia resulting from previous, perhaps unrelated abuse, are all subtypes of dental phobia. And not all of these fears can be deemed irrational. |
Currently, dental fear is defined as an extreme and persistent fear which involves dentists, dental procedures, a specific fear of needles, teeth, or objects and situations which remind the individual of the phobic situation. Not surprisingly, the dentist's drill is often a major factor in dentist fears. Even thinking or hearing about going to the dentist causes psychological distress for many people. Unfortunately, children are also influenced by their parents' fears and attitudes towards dental treatment – so the phobia continues.
Experiencing dentist fears often results in people avoiding the dentist until a physical problem becomes too overwhelming to handle, I want to provide you with information to help manage this anxiety.
Please keep in mind that this information is offered as suggestions. They are not being provided as professional medical advice. If you experience dentist fears which effects your day to day functions (e.g., you cannot sleep at night due to an upcoming dental visit), please seek the assistance and guidance from a licensed professional.
 With dentistry's many advances, diagnosis and treatment gets more sophisticated and comfortable all the time and some of us may be worrying unnecessarily. But, if you do have anxiety, below are some suggestions on techniques to use to overcome dental anxiety.
 There were also two good sites that I reviewed on the topic relating to dentist fears: One is the site of Dr. Terry Gotthelf. Dr. Gotthelf believes that traditional dental care should include opportunities for healing. She has developed a six-step program to help patients who fear going to the dentist. Her approach incorporates the mind-body concept where physical well being can be affected by mental and emotional states. The other site is the Dental Phobia Treatment Center. This site offers help on identifying specific dental phobia. It then provides concrete, hands-on tips and suggestions for handling dental phobia. There are several relatively good resources on the market in the form of books, audio and video tapes to help with combating dentist fear. For instance, the Anxiety and Panic Attacks resource allows you to learn a powerful, yet common sense approach to ending anxiety and panic attacks using a technique known as the One Move™. The Conquer Stress, Depression and Anxiety book is designed to help you understand precisely why stress, depression and anxiety rob you of the motivation to do even the most simple tasks. It offers one amazingly simple, natural technique to quickly overcome this problem. The SelfSteps Program offers a whole new approach to beating chronic anxiety, panic attacks and depression naturally. Learn the THREE CORE FOUNDATIONS of every human being that must be in balance to live an anxiety and depression free life. If you are more of the video and CD learner, the EasyCalm Video Coaching Series offers a anxiety and panic attack coaching series in a downloadable Video format. You can view all 27 minutes of the entire first session from the Easycalm Video Series on their website. Try before you buy! For children, there is the unique, research-bases series of CDs developed by Mimi Lupon, , M.A., L.S.S.P., L.P.C. entitled OLD ME NEW ME. This program was designed to help reduce emotional and behavioral problems as well as negative thinking and feelings in children. An easy to use program, it teaches new behaviors and emotional responses to life’s difficult situations. This program consists of short stories that teaches more appropriate ways to handle stress, soothing sound effects, music and positive self talk. It is especially effective for those who have experienced trauma or severe negative experiences of any kind including post traumatic stress. A new CD, Swimming with the Dolphins is for children of divorce and can be downloaded or purchased separately. Dr. Lendell Braud, a professor of Psychology conducted a study using Old Me New Me with a number of young victims of Katrina who experienced post traumatic stress. Results showed a number of positive benefits from the use of this program with these youngsters over a 12-15 week period. These benefits included a decrease in anxiety, physiological stress and worry, a reduction of concentration problems and depression. Parents reported their children were less physically and verbally aggressive, less impulsive and hyperactive and showed fewer signs of frustration. Please take a moment to review the information on these sites. It may be worth your time if you are suffering from dental phobia. |
In addition to the websites, below is a video provided courtesy of Dr. Jerry Gordon, www.dentalcomfortzone.com, who explains how he and his staff helps patients to overcome dental phobia. Click on the arrow in the middle of the screen in order to view the video ON THIS PAGE. Otherwise, you will be brought to the original source document page and find it difficult to get back to this article. There is also information (and some video) on some of the more basic dental procedures. Providing information about the details of a dental procedure, may give you a better understanding of the process. When we understand how things work, sometimes this allows us to feel better prepared and more in control of a situation. I hope you find this information helpful in terms of your dentist fear. If you have any suggestions or advice to help others to manage dental phobia, I welcome your submissions. Please use the form at the bottom of this page.
Dr. Jerry Gordon explains how he handles patient fears in dentistry.
Video provided courtesy of http://www.youtube.com/user/DrJerryGordon
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I wish you well with your dentist fear needs,
The Dental Clinic Manager
After reviewing all of the information and referral sites on dental fear, if you have not already done so, please take a moment to review some of the ways to get free dental care from licensed dentists. Also learn about dental insurance and inexpensive dental plans to help you pay for dental care. This information is provided to you as a way to help you take control of ever increasing dental costs. Also learn where to get low cost dental implants (or a free dental implant procedure), dental mouth guards, dental bridge work or a dental bone graft at significantly reduced rates. Join hundreds of other individuals today.
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