You can overcome your fear of dentists!

A tooth has been bothering you for quite some time, but the sheer thought of having to book an appointment with your dentist leaves you petrified and weak in the knees? You are not alone! It is quite normal for people to worry about undergoing dental procedures, especially if they have had a bad experience in the past. But no good comes of delaying an appointment, because your problem will only worsen and you risk having to endure a more complex and painful procedure! The solution: speak with your dentist!

Your dentist can prescribe an oral sedative for you to take before going in for a minor intervention. This type of sedative will help you relax and even make you a little sleepy. But because sedatives have no effect on pain, local anaesthesia is still required to prevent you from feeling any pain during the procedure. You might want to arrange having someone accompany you home afterward because you are likely to feel groggy and have slower reflexes. If taking an oral sedative does not appeal to you, speak with your dentist as there are other types of dental sedation to make you more comfortable, while remaining conscious. For more complicated and lengthier procedures, the rule of thumb remains general anaesthetic.

You definitely have to voice your concerns if going to the dentist fills you with sheer terror. There are simple solutions to finally getting that darn tooth fixed! You will see, dentists don’t bite!