American dentists taking steps to win back anxious patients
Figures show that almost a quarter of Americans are scared of going to the dentist and many are out off going to the dentist completely because they are anxious and nervous.
Dental anxiety is very common and affects most people to a degree. However, in some cases, the anxiety is so severe that patients will go for years without seeing a dentist. Patients with dental phobia often wind up in extreme pain because they have not been to a dentist for a long time and subsequently have extensive dental health problems. In order to combat this and encourage patients to attend regular routine check-ups, many dentists are introducing new services and treatments to help anxious patients.
Dentists across the USA are kitting their surgeries out with the latest multimedia technology to distract patients and make them feel at ease. Now, more often than not, patients can watch a film during the appointment or relax with some music. For those with more severe anxiety, sedation is becoming increasingly popular; sedation means the patient is asleep during the procedure and this puts people’s minds at rest; if they know they won’t feel anything, they are much more likely to visit their dentist on a regular basis.
Some dental practices are now offering hypnotherapy services for patients with dental phobia; this method has become popular in the UK and feedback from patients has been very positive. Hypnotherapy helps to relax patients and enables them to stay calm both before and during their dental appointment.
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