I was listening to the radio the other day and heard an advertisement for a dentist who was very proud of his newest offering: sedation.

I am all for going to the dentist for a checkup and to clean teeth properly. The health benefits of clean teeth and gums are many:

– Reduced chance of infection- Cleaning away bad bacteria and plaque also reduces the risk of getting sick

– Whiter teeth- I notice people who have bright, healthy smiles, it’s true. I also notice stains and holes.

– Fresh breath- having bad breath is not something most people would choose, and having them professionally cleaned helps to reduce the chance of hidden goo making your mouth stink.

– Savings in the pocketbook because of prevented disease- proper hygiene prevents a host of terrible side effects and conditions.

Tooth decay and gum disease can negatively affect health in more ways than just having a displeasing smile and bad breath.

But what if going to the dentist causes extreme fear? Avoiding having teeth cleaned due to an actual anxiety disorder called Dental Anxiety prevents thousands of people from attaining healthy teeth and gums and can lead to dangerous bacterial infections. At the very least, it puts people at risk of losing their natural teeth and sets them up for expensive replacements later.

Do you have Dental Anxiety? Ask yourself these questions:

Do I avoid making an appointment to see the dentist?

Has it been more than 2 years since my last cleaning?

Do I have an uncomfortable physical reaction such as stomach pain, headache, or irritability at the thought of a dental cleaning?

Have I had a bad experience in the past at the dentist’s office?

Do I think the dentist will lecture or embarrass me about the condition of my teeth?

If you answered yes to even one of the questions above, you have some measure of Dental Anxiety that should be addressed.

I am not a fan of sedation when it can be avoided, especially when it is being used in place of conquering the anxiety head-on. This crutch places an unreasonable amount of risk on the part of the dental client that should be addressed with other measures.

If you are suffering from Dental Anxiety, consider for a moment what you might be risking by not seeing a dental professional and then ask yourself: Which is worse…risking known dangers of poor oral hygiene, or overcoming your anxiety and getting a healthy mouth?

Dangers include:

– Gingivitis- (mild gum disease) this makes your gums sore and makes your mouth stink. Left untreated, it progresses to…

– Periodontitis- this is where the gums pull away from the teeth, exposing raw dentin and even nerves

-Bone loss in the jaw- areas of bacterial infection destroy the tissue and eventually the bone in the jaw. This is a progressive and very painful problem.

– Heart disease- dozens of not only oral health studies but also cardiovascular health studies have long stated that dangerous heart disease has been linked to poor oral health and untreated gum disease.

So how can the anxiety be overcome? There are a lot of options…just choose the best combination of steps that work for your situation:

– Call the dentist and tell him or her. You are not alone in this fear of going to the dentist. Your dentist’s office may have great drug-free methods to help you overcome the anxiety.

– Schedule a get-acquainted visit. Many offices will let you come in a few times to get accustomed to the sights, smells, and sounds of the office before your actual visit, and usually there is no charge for this benefit. Sometimes they will give you a tour.

– Talk to someone. Share your concerns with a friend, or better yet, see if the dentist has anyone who has been in a similar situation who would be willing to share his or her experiences and how they overcame their fears.

-Speak up. Let the dentist or hygienist know when you are feeling pain and take a little break. Some offices use code gestures for indicating pain or discomfort and will even give you something to hold (like a bear, stress ball, or other object).

– Plan a special treat for yourself for after the visit. If you haven’t had too much work done, go see a movie or have a special meal. People generally never outgrow the appreciation of a treat or reward for a job well done. You don’t have to give yourself a sticker, but who needs to know if you’ve had a lollypop waiting in the car for after the visit?

-Most importantly, find a way to relax completely before and after the visit. The total body relaxation and emotional release activities in my Blood Pressure program are extremely beneficial and effective in this setting.

Don’t put off getting a healthy mouth, and don’t let anxiety or fear stop you from conquering the dentist’s office. You don’t need sedatives, only the right combination of anxiety-busting methods described above.

EL331005