Overcoming Your Fears Leads To Better Dental Health
You’ve ignored the pain, discomfort, and embarrassment of having a missing tooth for a while now. You’ve said that you’ll see a dentist eventually, but eventually keeps getting further and further away. Now, you no longer want to go out socially, you’ve stopped smiling, and you go out of your way to avoid foods that you used to love just because you can’t chew them properly.
Isn’t it time that you admit that you need a tooth replacement?
The Fear That Holds You Back
People avoid going to the dentist to discuss their tooth-replacement options for many reasons, the number one being fear. People fear the unknown and they have assumed ideas; and there are a lot of assumptions about dentists. Some fears include being unsure of how much work will need to be done, how much it will hurt, or how much it can cost. But none of these assumed fears can compare with the reality of how much it hurts to chew, or how hard it is to smile when your teeth are missing.
The key to seeing a dentist is finding ways to relax. A few ways to relax yourself enough to step into a dentist office include:
- Breathing techniques. Take a deep breath in as you silently count to 7. Slowly breathe out as you count to 11. Focus on your breaths and keep going 7-11 for a minute or so to keep calm. Repeat as needed.
- Use aromatherapy. Aromatherapy can be used to fight anxiety and de-stress almost instantly. Carry essential oil in a necklace diffuser, or put a few drops on a cotton ball inside a Ziploc baggie. Inhale the scent when you feel overwhelmed. Try lavender, peppermint, or ylang-ylang.
- Relax. Even in the waiting room, you can close your eyes and decompress by relaxing all of the muscles in your face, neck, chest and back.
- Listen in. Bring a music player filled with songs that relax you, from classical to current and instrumental. Nature sounds are especially effective and can help bring you to a place of peace almost instantly.
At Community Dental Group, we want you to be able to relax enough to look at your tooth replacement options. You might need a bridge, a crown, a dental implant, or even a set of dentures, but we can help you find the option that will work best for you. We don’t want anyone to ever be afraid of getting the proper care.
Everything changes when your teeth are restored. Replacing your missing teeth means that you’ll speak better, eat better, and have an overall sense of comfort. The only fear is fear of letting go of your assumptions and thoughts about dentistry. Call us, come and see us, but please don’t put it off any longer. Let us help you overcome the fear, one tooth at a time.