Is
your fear of visiting your dentist giving you sleepless nights? Does the
mention of a dentist invoke fearful thoughts? Well then you are more likely to
suffer from poor oral health in the form of decayed teeth or maybe even missing
teeth. What is the relation between the two? Read below to find out.
What
is dental phobia?
Children associate the name ‘dentist’ with
syringes and pain. To control a child in a dental clinic, when faced with
procedures such as extraction, becomes a huge task in itself. Hence tantrums
thrown by children in a dental clinic are not new. However, only children are
not the victims of this phobia. Adults are equally phobic, and they too avoid
dental visits.
Many people are afraid of the white apron
worn by the dental practitioners whereas others may be fearful of even the
smell of the dental clinic. Many a people faint at the sight of blood.
The
downside to this phobia
This hatred prevents people from visiting
dentists on a regular basis. The result being poor oral health. They tend to
suffer even from preventable oral diseases just because of this phobia. They
more commonly have decayed or missing teeth as compared to people without the
phobia.
People suffering from dental phobia also have a poor quality of life. Their overall well being is adversely affected, be it emotional, physiological, psychological and even social. They tend to become reserved and introverted. And this further exacerbates the condition.
Loss of self-confidence is a very commonly
observed ailment in such patients. They seem to have negative body image as
they are unable to even to smile because of the poor condition of their teeth
which seems embarrassing to them. An overall negative approach to life leads
them slowly into depression.
The
Solution to the Problem
According to Dentzz reviews based on research, such patients should be treated for the long term rather than shorter visits to the dentist. For example, they should be advised extraction rather than regular oral prophylaxis or surgeries. Also, such patients should be trained to perform at home dental care in the interim period to avoid preventable oral diseases.
They can be taught the brushing techniques
to enable better removal of plaque. They should be advised brushing twice daily
with a fluoridated toothpaste. Flossing should be mandatory for them to perform
once in a day.
Children are more prone to dental problems
because of their inability to understand and follow the techniques correctly.
Hence preventive restorations and at- home fluoride application kits should be
advised. Preventive resin restorations are also a good choice for the same.
