09
Dec
MANAGING FEAR OF THE DENTIST
When patients tell us they have dental phobia, or fear of the dentist, there is often a dental event in their past that was traumatic. Perhaps as a child they had a scary needle encounter or a dentist who wasn’t very kind. Some patients have such powerful memories that they can’t even book an appointment without fear. It is estimated that 1 in 5 people have fear of the dentist. The good news is that there are ways to manage dental fear and anxiety. The first step is for patients to clearly communicate to the dental staff what it is they are afraid of. Is it the needle? The sound of the dental drill? The more detail the dental team has, the more effectively a plan of action can be made. We try to give patients as much control as possible. Whether that means raising their hand to signal a break is needed or holding onto a suction. Other techniques include:
- Distractions like music or video
- Sedation– IV sedation, laughing gas, oral sedation
- Establishing control through hand signals
- Deep breathing
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sunnybrook-health-sciences-centre/fear-of-the-dentist_b_8709004.html
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Kathryn Gauch, DDS
Dr. Kathryn Gauch is a dedicated dentist with a rich education and clinical practice background. Raised in Maryland, she attended Johns Hopkins University and later earned her dental degree from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. She was actively involved in research and teaching during her studies, earning the Student Research Fellowship Honors and the Divisional Excellence Award in Operative Dentistry. She completed her General Practice Residency at the Boston Veterans Affairs Hospital/Harvard University. In Connecticut, Dr. Gauch is committed to offering personalized care to the New Haven community, ensuring each patient’s needs are met with respect and expertise.