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Most dentists recommend that their patients visit for a cleaning and a checkup twice a year. However, the uncomfortable chair, scraping, noises, and aggressive flossing hardly make the visit one people look forward to. Children and adults alike often experience anxiety associated with a trip to the dentist. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to feel more relaxed when you are in the chair. New cleaning methods can make the process painless, and there are a number of ways in which you can mentally prepare yourself or your child for a cleaning or procedure. A professional tooth cleaning is vital to maintaining the health of your teeth and gums. The process involves removing the plaque and tartar responsible for causing bad breath, gum disease, and decay, from the teeth and along the gum line. The traditional method of removing plaque and tartar involves using a tool called a hard scraper, and the process is one of the reasons people dread their biannual cleaning. A new method, called ultrasonic cleaning, dispenses with the hard scraper. Instead, a scaler vibrates at a high frequency, disintegrating plaque and tartar without harming the tooth enamel. The procedure also promises to be completely painless, because only the vibrations touch the teeth. Ultrasonic cleanings also benefit patients with healthy teeth and gums because it can remove coffee stains, which hand scraping cannot fully remove. For the estimated 9 to 20 percent of patients who have a fear of going to the dentist, a painless cleaning may not be sufficient to ease their anxiety. These patients avoid the dentist altogether, and only seek treatment when they are in pain. Reasons people feel anxious about treatment include fear of pain, fear that the anesthetic will not work, or fear that the treatment will not work. For adults, the best way to confront those fears is to have a frank conversation with your dentist, as most adults realize that their fears are not grounded in reason. He or she may be able to calm your fears by explaining what they are doing, and their reason for doing it in order to prepare you for the procedure. You may also agree to a hand signal that will be honored when you need a break or are uncomfortable. Finally, making sure that your child develops a healthy attitude towards the preventative care a dentist can provide begins at a young age. Children should see the dentist for the first time before age 1, or when the first tooth is visible. One way in which you can prepare your child for a visit is to put the purpose for the exam into age-appropriate terms. Keep the conversation positive by telling your child that the dentist is going to count their teeth, or check their smile, and avoid providing too many unnecessary details. A book featuring your child's favorite characters can also introduce the subject in a non-threatening way. The professional staff is accustomed to dealing with its fussiest patients, so if your child throws a tantrum, allow him or her to handle it in a safe manner. To learn more about the dentist, North Olmsted, OH residents should visit http://http://www.drsikora.com/.
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