With good dental health you'll look and feel better. Others will respond to you more positively and you will have more self-confidence.
You can eat more of a variety of foods with good teeth; dentures limit the foods you can eat.
Other health problems are caused by bad teeth and bad gums. Delayed dental work can be more costly.
Here are a series of processes that you can use to help yourself or another to overcome the fear of going to the dentist's office or receiving dental work.
These processes are not meant to replace professional counseling if that is what is needed to help you with the fear of dentists. The processes are simply designed to "lighten up" your attitudes and responses to receiving dental work.
If you still have a problem after these exercises you should consider getting professional help. This is not meant to be a substitute or replacement for professional medical or therapeutic help if that's what's needed.
Do each of the following processes until you feel a shift in your reactions to going to the dentist. One process may work better for one person than another. You can also use a tape recorder to record these and play them back to yourself.
I did the Clowning with my kids. It was fun for them. It is much easier getting them to the dentist.
-- Katie S., Atlanta
I hadn't been to the dentist in almost 20 years. The exercises helped me to go. Thank you.
-- Roger M., Sacramento
I have used the exercises on my patients and they worked.
-- Dr. Ken R., Boston
Your exercises are simple yet very effective.
-- Sandra D., Los Angeles
