ONE
STEP AT A TIME -
Treat the phobia not just the teeth.
On
your first appointment just have a chat - discuss your fears
- get used to being in the place. This may help get
rid of the image, possibly built up over the years,
that the surgery is a torture chamber and the dentist the
reincarnation of the Marquis De Sade. (Unless you really
are unlucky!)
Arrange
with your dentist that the first examination is not in depth,
just a quick look. This helps you to get over the "my
teeth are disgusting and the worse that the dentist has
seen" syndrome.
Arrange
a signal with your dentist to stop what he is doing if you
need him to. This puts you more in control of the situation.
The
rest depends on what your fears are for example:-
Needle
Phobia - Ask the Dentist to show you the needle (if you
can cope). See if you can be given "the gel" which
numbs the gum prior to an injection. Just have an injection
without any treatment. Anything like this helps. Just prove
to yourself that you can handle one aspect of your fears
before addressing the next.
Drill
Phobia - Have a look at the drill, have a listen to the
drill, get used to it before it is used on you.
Have
a mirror handy - Sometimes it helps to see what is happening.
The imagination can often run wild. Actually seeing what
is being done can put things into perspective. ( I didn't
believe that until I tried it and I can only watch a scale
and polish)
These
are things that helped me. They may, or may not, work for you.
Find out what works for you, discuss it with your dentist and
take it from there.
All
of this depends on how sympathetic your dentist is but remember:-
As
a phobic you need to be understood and NOT rushed or forced
into anything.
Unless
you have a really good dentist that regulates the treatment
stay in control of the situation. You know what you can
cope with - don't exceed it
Take
one step at a time - don't move on until you KNOW you can
handle it.
Treat
the Phobia, thats what is affecting your life, not just
the teeth.
This
is a purely personal observation but if your dentist will not
agree to the above you're in the wrong place!!
