How to Survive the Dental Chair

It could happen to as a result of stress, poor diet, or neglect of annual cleaning. One day out of nowhere it hits you. Lunch is a distant memory in a hectic schedule, but now it is time to enjoy a relaxing meal in your home. Dinner begins as usual on a night after work with the TV tuned to your favorite channel. Finally, you take a bite out of something that didn't come from a vending machine, and something bites you back. At least it feels that way when your mouth encounters the edge of a broken tooth. An image from the movie, "Little Shop of Horrors," comes to mind with Steve Martin singing, "... son be a dentist. You have a talent for causing things pain." Let the random thoughts of fiction pass. Contrary to popular belief, the dentist is not your enemy. Since no one has invented a transporter to beam the broken fragments of tooth out, he is your best source of relief. Pain is inevitable, but there are some steps you can take to make it as smooth a transition as possible.

In the case of the infected tooth that needs to be extracted, the dentist will most likely prescribe antibiotics for about a week to ten days. It is very important to take all the medication as prescribed. Do not second guess your dentist or think that just because it does not hurt you are fine. Remember the reason you put your mouth in the dentist hands in the first place. He or she earned a degree that qualifies them to help you in the best ways possible. It is a common misconception that the antibiotics are just to alleviate pain. In actuality, the pain relief is more a side effect of the purpose, which is to clear up the infection. That is why you may still be given a prescription for pain relief. When the pain is gone, the antibiotics have just reached the symptoms and have not cured you. The infection still needs the full dose of antibiotics to do more than take care of the pain.

If you don't have insurance or are skittish of needles and the pain involved, it is easy to try to dismiss the extraction altogether. Following that urge is not in your best interest. The tooth will have to come out eventually and you will actually save pain and money by getting it taken care of right away. The best time to schedule an extraction is when all the antibiotics have been taken and the tooth does not hurt. The temptation to wait for it to hurt again is always there and should be resisted.

One time as I waited in the dental chair for a difficult extraction, I calmed myself with deep breathing. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply in and out while imagining myself walking on a beach. There are different methods of visualization and breathing that can focus attention away from the situation. The main idea is to divert your attention by imagery or relaxing to the rhythm of your breathing. Making a checklist of the five senses is useful in visualizing. How does the sand feel between your toes? Is it cool and smooth or warm and gritty? What colors are the flowers? What does the ocean surf sound like? Is there a tropical or citrus smell in the air? Consider all the things you could sense in your imagination and it will be more real to you.

Preparation is the key to taking the unnecessary stress out of the experience. Work with the dentist as much as possible or you will be fighting a current and making it harder on yourself. A good dentist will not leave you in the dark. He or she will talk you through things as they go along. If you happen to have a dentist with gorgeous eyes and soothing voice, consider it a bonus distraction from the experience.