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Fear of the dentist (Dentaphobia) includes psychologically irrational fears such as fear or dislike of going to the dentist. These fears may consist of being tilted backwards in the dentist’s chair, putting hands or other dental instruments into the mouth, fear of needles, and fears of catching various infectious diseases and germs such as HIV and hepatitis, with the thought that the instruments used will not be sterile. In addition, bad experiences or bad impressions in the past can also create this phobia. Some movies and cartoons that reinforce the fear of the dentist also push patients to be prejudiced. Although it is generally used as a subject of humor, it can have false effects, especially in children. Therefore, this kind of movie and humor should be avoided. Especially children should be kept away from such films and magazines. In addition to these negativities, pain or various other problems that occur during and after the treatment can be the source of the fear of the dentist, as well as the dental stories told by others without any experience and those who develop fear of the dentist with such sensations. Since this situation prevents people from going to the dentist, more serious dental problems arise and people who have to go to the dentist due to growing problems are exposed to longer and more treatment procedures. The prolongation of these procedures due to dental problems and the fact that they cause distress to the person reinforces the fear of the dentist. So what can you do in this situation? As we all know and are recommended to us, for a healthy smile, we need to go to a dentist at least once every six months and have our mouth and teeth checked. It is recommended that children be taken to the dentist at an early age for “acquaintance” so that they are accustomed to the dentist, even these meetings can be coincided with their special days such as their birthdays, or they can be taken to the dentist for entertainment before going to a place they love very much. Thus, in the first experience, the child spends a painless and fearless day. In the next sessions, painless interventions should be done as much as possible. It should not be forgotten that children only know when they are hurt. They cannot interpret events correctly. For this reason, spreading the treatments over time ensures that the child does not get negative impressions about dentists. As a result, the most important periods when fear of the dentist develops are overcome in a healthy way. Developing technology offers many alternatives for patients not to feel pain. Therefore, patients do not experience much pain today. For example, with the development of technology, the tips of the needles used for anesthesia in dentistry are made with a diameter of less than one millimeter (0.35-0.40 mm). Due to the very thin diameter of the needle, the patient often does not feel the needle. However, for patients who are worried, it can be ensured that the needle is not felt at all by using superficial anesthetics in the form of spray before the injection. The first condition of a painless treatment is anesthesia. For this reason, people who are afraid of needles may experience pain that they will feel much more by escaping from a procedure that they will feel very little or not feel at all, namely anesthesia. Despite everything, the fact that there is always the possibility of going to the dentist in our lives and that we may have to encounter such situations that we do not like should not be ignored. WISHING A HEALTHY DAY |
