Getting Over Your Oral Surgery Fears

There are different kinds of oral surgery. If you’re going to have some soon, then it is not unusual to be apprehensive about it. Maybe you need to have a tooth extracted, or more than one. Perhaps you require a root canal, or you are getting a cavity filled.

 

If you’re struggling to accept what’s going to happen, then you need to speak to your dentist about it. You’ll want to go into the procedure being okay with what’s occurring, so here are some steps for you to follow.

 

What Scares You?

When you have a talk with your dentist about upcoming oral surgery, it will help if you can identify exactly what it is that frightens you. By zeroing in on that aspect, you’ll have a better chance of figuring out a workable solution.

 

Is the noise of the drill disturbing you, or its vibration? Is it the fear of being sedated? Is it embarrassment about the condition of your breath or teeth? Are needles the problem, or the idea of gum injections?

 

Have You Chosen the Correct Dentist?

You want to be sure that the dentist you’re using is one who will listen to your fears. Some people have a difficult time with all dental matters, and you want a practitioner who will take your hesitation seriously instead of trying to brush it aside. The right dentist should be able to work with you to devise a solution to the problem.

 

Drill Fears

If you’re getting your teeth drilled, just the thought of the drill, its physical appearance, the sound, or the way it vibrates might be enough to make you shudder.

 

However, numbing agents are going to be used so that there will be no pain when the drill is in use. You are not going to feel a thing, or at least nothing but a slight vibration. If it’s the noise the drill makes that bothers you, you might choose to wear earplugs while the procedure is happening.

 

Needle Fears

Fear of needles is likely the most common dental concern. The thought of that needle entering your gum is what causes some people to avoid seeing the dentist even when they’re in pain.

 

You can ask the dentist to apply a numbing gel to your gums before they use the needle. You could also ask them to tell you when they are about to use it, and you could shut your eyes. You might feel a slight pressure at that point, but if your gums are numb, then there will be no pain.

 

Pain Fears

Fear of pain, while the drilling is going on, is also a common issue. Maybe you had a bad experience once, and it has made you paranoid.

Numbing agents are available now which ensure that there will be no pain. The rest of the problem is you being tense when you’re sitting in the dentist’s chair.

 

If you stay calm and focus on your breathing as you sit there, then you will not tense up. The dentist will make sure that the numbing gel has been employed before the injections or drilling take place. Then, try to imagine that you’re somewhere else for a time. Leaving your body for a little while is easy once you get the hang of it.

 

Sedation Fears

Some people worry that something bad is going to happen if they need to be sedated for surgery. The best solution is to pick a dentist that you trust absolutely.

 

You could also bring someone along to look after you when you’re in the fog of anesthesia. They can wait outside for you, or some dentists will even consent to let them sit in the room to make sure that nothing goes wrong.

 

Some individuals feel like they’re going to choke when they’re unconscious. That is impossible. Though you may lose sensation when your mouth is numb, you won’t lose function, so choking isn’t a danger.

 

Embarrassment

The final thing that people worry about sometimes is that the dentist is going to be judgmental of them because of their teeth. This is sometimes true for smokers or those who have not been taking very good care of their teeth and gums for a long time.

 

Most dentists have seen it all, though. Chances are, they’ve treated people whose teeth were in worse shape than yours. Try to put these thoughts out of your mind. It’s a dentist’s job to deal with your teeth, and they should be up to the task. That’s going to be true even if you have some cavities or staining.

 

Oral surgeries and trips to the dentist are not going to be anyone’s idea of a great time, but they’re not the end of the world. Longer or more complex surgical procedures might take a couple of hours, but then it’s over. All that’s left is to recover.

 

People who are concerned about the dentist often find that their fears were groundless. Once you have been through a couple of cleanings or extractions, you’ll know that it is nothing of which you need to be afraid. You should be okay going forward.