Many people are absolutely terrified to visit the dentist, clinging to terrifying childhood memories of fillings and needles and drills, and therefore avoiding necessary dental care. Because they avoid the dentists, their dental problems become even worse, and by the time they get to the dentists, the chances are even greater that they’ll experience the very pain that they want so badly to avoid.
Modern technology and procedures have come a long way, and visits to the dentist aren’t nearly as unpleasant as they once were. And understanding the many misconceptions regarding dentists will help to quell your fears:
1. Going to the dentist means pain. This is the most common misconception about dentists, and it is the reason many people avoid going to the dentist. Dentists are skilled in pain management and prevention. You are no more likely to experience pain at the dentist’s office than you are at the doctor’s office.
2. Dental X-rays are dangerous. The truth is, you’re exposed to far more radiation just living your day to day life than in a single dental x-ray. And they’re necessary for good dental care – x-rays are the only way for your dentist to see disease in your teeth or gums.
3. Dental health is completely separate from the rest of your body’s health. Actually, poor dental health can affect your body’s immune system, causing all sorts of problems from chronic colds and flu to infections, or worse.
4. Dentists don’t need much training. In reality, dentists study for years to get their degree, taking classes that involve intensive classroom studies as well as laboratory courses and hands-on training in complex procedures. They then must pass rigorous board examinations proving practical and clinical knowledge before they’re allowed to practice.
5. Children don’t need to see a dentist until their permanent teeth come in. Not true. If there are problems with baby teeth, there may be problems with the permanent teeth. In addition, decayed teeth can make you sick, even if they are baby teeth.
6. Braces are only cosmetic. Actually, braces help you enjoy a lifetime of dental health. Misaligned teeth can cause problems with nutrition and speech, and they are more likely to develop cavities.
7. You only need to go to the dentist if you have a toothache. The truth is that preventative dental care prevents those toothaches. Preventive dental care costs less and is less painful than getting cavities filled.
8. Dentists can’t write prescriptions. Actually, dentists can write prescriptions for problems related to your teeth, and your pharmacist will fill those prescriptions. Usually, dentists write prescriptions for antibiotics or pain medications.
9. Dentists are stressed out and have a high suicide rate. That myth has been circulating since the 1930’s. The truth is that most dentists enjoy their job because they enjoy helping people. Dentists don’t have any more stress-related problems than other health care professionals.
10. You shouldn’t get dental care while you are pregnant. It is best, if possible, to avoid dental x-rays or medications during the first trimester of pregnancy. Other than that, dental care is as important during pregnancy as it is at any other time. In fact, mom’s oral health is important to a healthy pregnancy.
The public's unfortunate view of dentists goes back to the earliest, crudest practices of dentistry, when dentists had to anesthetize their patients with whiskey before yanking their teeth out with pliers. Today’s dentists are a combination of preventive care specialists, surgeons and technicians, and take the physical comfort of their patients into consideration as well as their dental health. Today’s dentists understand that pain management is a vital part of the healing process, and that the faster a patient heals, the better his chances of continued health.
So don’t fear the dentist or x-rays, and give as much attention to the health of your teeth and gums as you do the rest of your body. You’ll be happy that you did, and your smile will show it.
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