DENTAL VISIT NOT WORTH FRETTING OVER.Byline: David A. Whiston Medical Tribune News Service If you get nervous about having dental work done, you're not alone. An estimated 35 million adults experience anxiety at the thought of a dental visit. But you can do some things to make your dental care more pleasant and pain-free. Consider the following suggestions: Share your feelings with your dentist dentist /den·tist/ (den´tist) a person with a degree in dentistry and authorized to practice dentistry. den·tist n. A person who is trained and licensed to practice dentistry. and hygienist. By bringing your fears out in the open, you can gain control of them and relax. Set aside a stress-free time for your dental visit, when you won't be rushed or troubled by concerns. A Saturday or early morning appointment may be less stressful than hurrying to see the dentist on your lunch hour or after work. Try to identify specific fears. Uncomfortable childhood experiences or the fear of pain are understandable, yet they are often unrealistic given the modern, pain-free techniques now used in dentistry dentistry, treatment and care of the teeth and associated oral structures. Dentistry is mainly concerned with tooth decay, disease of the supporting structures, such as the gums, and faulty positioning of the teeth. . During your dental visit, practice relaxation techniques Relaxation technique A technique used to relieve stress. Exercise, biofeedback, hypnosis, and meditation are all effective relaxation tools. Relaxation techniques are used in cognitive-behavioral therapy to teach patients new ways of coping with stressful to take your mind off of the treatment and to reduce tension. Focus on pleasant distractions such as soft music or a colorful poster, or practice deep, slow breathing. Ask the dentist or hygienist to explain each step of the dental exam or procedure. The more you know about the reasons for a certain procedure and what will be done, the more relaxed you will be. Get a good night's sleep the day before and eat a light breakfast the day of your appointment. To allow easier body movement, wear loose, comfortable clothes. Schedule short appointments by having different procedures done on different days, if possible. Also, arrange to take a break from lengthy procedures now and then, and get your dentist's agreement on a signal (such as a wave of your hand) by which you can stop a procedure in case you're experiencing discomfort Discomfort may refer to pain, an unpleasant sensation, or to suffering, an unpleasant feeling or emotion. . Once your dental visit is over, praise yourself for a job well done and treat yourself to a special reward. Whether going to the dentist makes you mildly anxious or downright down·right adj. 1. Thoroughgoing; unequivocal: a downright lie. 2. Forthright; candid. adv. Thoroughly; absolutely. panicky, discussing your fears openly with your dentist is a step in the right direction toward finding the best relaxation techniques to help you. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: With the right frame of mind, a trip to the dentist "A Trip to the Dentist" is episode 21 of season 1 of the television show Veronica Mars. Plot Veronica finally investigates what happened to her the night of Shelly Pomroy's party where she was drugged and date-raped and what she finds out is shocking. can be a tolerable tol·er·a·ble adj. 1. Capable of being tolerated; endurable. 2. Fairly good; passable. See Synonyms at average. tol experience. David Sprague/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion