The teeth contain a lot of nerve endings, especially around the root. The protective covering of the gums prevents the raw nerve endings from getting exposed to any sort of harm. This is why whenever a dental procedure is to be done the first thing that your dentist will do is to give you anesthesia.
In case the dentist is inexperienced and does not perform the anesthesia properly, then the kind of pain you experience in the dentist’s chair will make you dread going for a dental check-up ever.
About 5% off the population avoids going to the dentist due to the pain they may experience there. Some 20% of the population is so anxious of the pain that they will go to a dentist only when absolutely essential.
This is why dentists are especially trained to handle fearful patients.
In a large group of the population, the fear is not so much due to the pain as it is from the feeling of helplessness. One has to lie prone in the chair and the dentist hovers above you, doing things inside your mouth and you are in a position where you cannot even respond or talk. This sheer helplessness is enough to induce severe anxiety in people.
So whatever the reason is, fear of the dentist’s chair is a dreadful reality. Here is how you can overcome the fear:
- Accept that there will be some pain. The anesthesia shot might induce a little bit of pain to start with. Beyond that, there is no real need to fear. Once you start feeling pain during the procedure, express it to the dentist so he can give you some more anesthesia.
- Close your eyes and relax. You don’t have to see what the dentist will be doing to your tooth. Avoid looking at the instruments. It only brings on more fear!
- Practice relaxation techniques. Be calm and think of something that is of interest, a news event or yesterday night’s football match and try to take the procedure out of your mind.
- Try and take your mind off the dental procedure by listening to music. Putting on headphones works wonders.
- Divert your attention: If your dentist doesn’t already have something, ask specifically for something on the wall to divert your attention, like a scenic picture. This will help you relax and also ensure that there is something non-medical to look at.
There is no need to fear the dentists and their chair. They are here, after all, to take care of our tooth in a painless manner!
