March 6th is National Dentist Day - Overcome Your Fear of the Dentist

Dentistry is important in helping us maintain good oral health. Brushing our teeth, flossing each day, and seeing our dentist for maintenance check-ups and treatment are ways we care for our teeth and gums. Our teeth are very important to us. They are the first step in good digestion since they perform the critical step in breaking down food so we can swallow it and so the rest of digestion goes more smoothly. Dentists act as our partners in achieving excellent oral health.

While I was growing up, my mom and dad encouraged me to brush my teeth every day and took me in for regular dental check-ups. I taught good oral hygiene to my children. When they were very young I made their initial appointment and trip to the dentist a field trip to just simply go in and meet the dentist, sit in the chair, have their teeth counted, and get familiar with the tools. The dentist told them about the process. He did a wonderful job familiarizing my children with visiting a dentist. When it was time for their very first real check-up neither of them were afraid.

National Dentist Day can be a reminder to make an appointment with the dentist. Some people are afraid to go to the dentist. Some people have taken the firm stance that they hate the dentist. But fear of and hate for the dentist is not going to fight cavities or gingivitis. Those things are best fought with a dentist's help.

Some people have full blown dentist phobia. Those with a phobia of the dentist usually go through the entire scenario in their minds and predict the worst process and outcomes before they have even made an appointment. One of the first steps that can be taken is to think more realistically about a visit to the dentist. Even if you have had painful experiences in the dentist's office, realistically, not all visits will be very painful if you follow a maintenance plan to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Overcoming your fear of the dentist is important. A support person, a friend or family member that is not afraid of the dentist, can be a valuable tool in working through the fear of going to the dentist. If your dentist knows you have a phobia he or she will likely be willing to spread needed dental work out over a span of a few appointments instead of having all work done at once.

Sometimes taking small steps can be advantageous in overcoming this fear. You can watch educational videos about dentistry to become more familiar with the ins and outs of dentistry. This knowledge may help you to view the process in a more logical and reasonable way.

Another small step to take in your efforts to overcome the phobia is to tell your dentist of your fear and arrange to just sit in the waiting room once in a while or sit in a dentist's chair for a while. The longer you can sit in these locations, the more benefit you will get from the exposure. In performing these actions, you are exposing yourself to the environment, and the goal, over time, is to form a new impression in your mind about the dentist. Some dentists specialize in treating people who are fearful of the dentist. It is important for you to feel comfortable with your dentist.

If your fear is great, consider finding a therapist who can help you develop coping skills. Relaxation techniques can be learned to assist you when you are feeling distressed about a visit to the dentist. Remember that the dentist is not your enemy; your negative interpretation of the dentist is your enemy. That is not to say that all your negative perceptions about the dentist are unfounded. You may very well have had some very nasty experiences in a dentist's chair. Identifying the ideas that cause you anxiety can help you reformulate how you will think about the situation.

Dentists act as our partners in achieving excellent oral health. On this National Dentist Day, remember to make an appointment with your dentist. If you have a phobia of the dentist, take strides to overcome that fear and establish a working relationship with your dentist so you can have healthy teeth and gums and have a smile you can be proud of.