Do you fear being chastised by the dentist for neglecting your mouth?
Some patients fear being chastised by the dentist for neglecting their mouths. They might nervously comment that “I know I should have come earlier” or “Is this the worst mouth you ever saw?”, expecting the dentist to reprimand them like a disapproving father or a marine drill sergeant.
Is your child afraid of visiting the dentist?
Believe it or not, almost 20% of school age children are afraid of visiting the dentist. Unfortunately, this issue makes things difficult for the parents and technicians trying to help the child. Even worse, the anxiety can be detrimental to the child’s oral health when it prevents them from receiving necessary dental care.
What to do if your child refuses to go to the dentist?
Don’t give up. It can be understandably frustrating when your child refuses to go to the dentist, even for something as small as a fluoride treatment. It’s going to take a lot of patience to deal with dental anxiety. Remember that keeping calm and nurturing is extremely helpful to a fearful child.
What caused John Gamba's fear of dentists?
John Gamba was 9 years old when a dentist failed to anesthetize a back molar properly and hit a nerve dead-on. The result was a lifelong fear of dentists that reached a peak in his 20s, when he stopped going to the dentist entirely. "I couldn't even drive by a dentist's office without getting stressed out," he tells WebMD.
What is it called when a child is scared of the dentist?
One fairly common and difficult fear that some parents face is when their child is terrified of going to the dentist, also called dental phobia or anxiety. Believe it or not, almost 20% of school age children are afraid of visiting the dentist. Unfortunately, this issue makes things difficult for the parents and technicians trying to help the child.
What to do if your child refuses to go to the dentist?
It can be understandably frustrating when your child refuses to go to the dentist, even for something as small as a fluoride treatment. It’s going to take a lot of patience to deal with dental anxiety.
How to calm a child who is having a tantrum?
It can be difficult to stay calm while your child is having a tantrum or has anxiety at their dental appointment. Remind yourself to remain collected and to speak gently to you child. Having a soothing demeanor will make them feel safer and at ease.
How can dentists help children?
Dentists can tells stories and engage them in a conversation. That way, attention is drawn away from the procedure. That will also help the child to feel more comfortable around the dental professional.
How to help a child with dental anxiety?
Engage the child in conversation. Engagement is an extremely helpful tool to help your child overcome dental anxiety. Giving the child a task such as doing mental math or naming their favorite foods can keep them pleasantly distracted. Dentists can tells stories and engage them in a conversation.
How to teach a child to take care of their teeth?
Communication with your child is key. Talk to them about the importance of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Explain that the dentist is a friendly doctor who helps take care of their mouth, keeping them safe and healthy. Inform your dentist beforehand.
Is sedation good for kids?
Sedation dentistry is used for both kids and adults and is given as a controlled anti-anxiety medication. Most of the time, conscious sedation is enough to help the patient cope with the procedure. This kind of method allows the child to remain relaxed during the procedure.
Why do my teeth hurt?
While cavities are the most common cause of pain in the teeth and gums, children are susceptible to several oral health conditions, from infections to impaction. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of dental problems can relieve your child’s pain and help keep their teeth and gums healthy. While baby teeth will eventually fall out, ...
What happens if you don't floss your gums?
Gum Irritants. Crunchy or hard foods can get trapped in the periodontal pockets around each tooth, causing irritation that leaves your child in pain. If you cannot gently dislodge the foreign material with floss, your child will need to visit a dental professional.
What happens when a child loses his baby teeth?
As your child loses their baby teeth, their adult teeth slowly move toward the gums into the vacant space. If the adult teeth do not properly line up with the existing oral structures, the tooth can become impacted, or stuck below the gum line.
Why is it dangerous to have a dental abscess?
A dental infection, or abscess, can be particularly dangerous because of the proximity to the brain’s blood supply – immediate treatment is crucial. In addition to mouth, face and jaw pain, signs of a dental infection include redness, swelling and fever.
Do baby teeth fall out?
While baby teeth will eventually fall out, it is important to keep them healthy to set the stage for long-term oral health. If your child complains of dental pain, you need to schedule an appointment with a dentist for children in Little Rock to address the issue immediately.
What dental tool did Kane use to prep his daughter's teeth?
While she was under general anesthesia, the dentist used a common dental tool called a diamond bur to prep her teeth.
Who is the father of the girl who has a tooth crown?
The girl's father, Howard Kane, filed a malpractice lawsuit in state district court last week against Dr. Deep Karan Dhillon, who owns Just For Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics clinics in the Las Vegas area. According to the lawsuit, Kane took his daughter to Dhillon's office in January 2019 for a procedure to place multiple crowns on her teeth.
How long was the girl in the 'Standard' movie hospitalized?
The girl was taken to University Medical Center, where she was hospitalized for four days with injuries and burns to her epiglottis, throat, tongue, lips and surrounding areas, according to the complaint. Some of the injuries "may be permanent and disabling," it added. The family is seeking more than $15,000 in damages.
Who is the president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry?
Kevin Donly, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, said a report has been sent to the organization's safety committee despite the incident's being "unheard of" in his 33 years of practicing dentistry. The issue was discussed at the organization's safety symposium last fall.
Can dentists train for dental emergencies?
While most dental emergencies involve sedation and anesthesia, perhaps requiring dentists to train for even the most off-the-wall, rare occurrences, like a mouth fire, would be good to consider, he said, adding that he will be presenting the scenario to his dental residents.
Why do dentists cause anxiety?
Still, many dentists create unnecessary anxiety in patients because they assume that all patients have similar pain thresholds and will handle dental procedures in the same way, Milgrom says.
How old was John Gamba when he stopped going to the dentist?
John Gamba was 9 years old when a dentist failed to anesthetize a back molar properly and hit a nerve dead-on. The result was a lifelong fear of dentists that reached a peak in his 20s, when he stopped going to the dentist entirely. "I couldn't even drive by a dentist's office without getting stressed out," he tells WebMD.
How to overcome fear of dentist?
Here are a few tips that may help you overcome your fear of the dentist: Go to that first visit with someone you trust, such as a close relative who has no fear of dentists, Bynes suggests. Bynes even encourages friends and relatives to sit with the patient during treatment.
What are the consequences of gum disease?
Gum disease is a serious infection that can affect other parts of the body. Studies now link it to illnesses including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Why is wisdom tooth extraction bad?
Wisdom tooth extractions get a bad name because of occasional jaw pain experienced several days afterwards, which can be treated with pills. Still, even if your mind tells you you'll be just fine, your body may still fear that dentist's chair. Here are a few tips that may help you overcome your fear of the dentist:
Can a dentist perform IV sedation?
And only some dentists are qualified to perform IV sedation. If you can't bring yourself to go to any dentist, you might want to try seeing a psychologist first, says Ronald Kleinknecht, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Western Washington University and co-author of Treating Fearful Dental Patients.
Do dentists handle fearful patients?
Fortunately, many dentists are specially trained in handling fearful patients; a variety of methods and treatments are available to reduce pain and alleviate fear in the dentist's chair.
Why are people scared of dentists?
Ironically, many people are scared to go to the dentist because of bad teeth. They worry that the dentist and their staff will judge them. You’re definitely not alone in being embarrassed by what the dentist will think of the state of your teeth or your dental hygiene! Please don’t be embarrassed about going to get help.
Why does my oral health get worse?
Depression. Depression and other mental health issues can cause your oral health to get worse. When you are depressed, you’re less likely to look after your health. You may not be able to drag yourself out of bed or have a shower, never mind brush your teeth.
What are the symptoms of a toothache?
You may feel embarrassed about: 1 the state of your teeth 2 “having let things get this bad” 3 being judged 4 your lack of oral hygiene 5 not having seen a dentist for a long time or 6 being fearful.
What do dentists do?
Treating dental problems is what dentists do. Most caring professionals are there to treat their patients’ problems, and offer restorative solutions. If a dentist berates you for the condition of these teeth, get up and walk out. And if even a dentist tells you to get up and walk out….
What is the vicious circle of dental phobia?
This is the vicious circle of dental phobia: whatever caused the phobia initially ( be it painful or traumatic experiences, hurtful remarks, or something else) leads to avoidance. The resulting lack of dental care has a bad effect on your oral health.
Do dentists browbeat patients?
Whatever the reason, the important thing is that the person is coming in for dental care now. The bottom line is that most dentists do not browbeat their patients about the condition of their teeth. That may have been common years ago, but is not nearly as prevalent today.
Can dental problems be caused by genes?
Embarrassment and feelings of guilt, self-blaming and shame often go hand-in-hand. It can help to know that many factors can cause dental problems, including your genes. Some people are luckier than others, and dentists are aware of this: