Most people are anxious to some degree by the prospect
of dental surgery.
However some people find it either very hard or sometimes
even impossible to cope.
The reasons for this fear are numerous; many people
relate the problems to an experience in childhood. The treatment,
however, is often the same.
The dental phobic is often a poor attendee and therefore
likely to be most in need of treatment
There is a world of difference between the dental phobic
and the patient who experiences dental fear.
Dental Phobia is a more serious condition
but CAN be SUCCESSFULLY treated
Dental Phobia
A phobia is a quite different problem than simple fear
or anxiety. The classic sign of a phobia is the 'avoidance behaviour'.
'Avoidance behaviour' is as it sounds - the patient
does virtually everything possible to avoid the threatening situation.
Avoidance is easy if the phobia is heights or flying
but it is much more of a problem when the phobic situation is
one that we all need at certain times of our lives, such as dental
treatment.
The phobic patient is usually a very poor dental attendee
and only attends when forced to do so by very extreme pain.
The patient is usually well aware that the fear is
totally irrational but feels unable to do much to change this.
The accompanying features of a panic attack associated
with a phobic situation include heart palpitations, feeling sick,
nauseous and faint.
Eventually the phobic patient may be more frightened
of the panic symptoms, such as fainting and uncontrollable shaking,
that of the phobic situation itself and feels unable to be in
control.
If this sounds like you why not telephone the practice
before booking your appointment and explain. Do not be embarrassed.
A GOOD dentist will have come across this many times before and
will be well used to the problem.
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