Dental chills await me this Halloween
Dental chills await me this Halloween
10/29/07
The Fresno Bee
Dread, fear and possibly horror are in store for me on Halloween. And, oh yes, there will be blood. But it won't be because of anyone dressed as that creepy character from those "Saw" movies.
I will be scared by a nice guy wearing a mask: my dentist.
Tomorrow, I begin one of four sessions to improve the health of my gums. Given that it's been four years since I last saw a dentist, I'm lucky things weren't worse. The fault lies squarely at my feet ... or would that be inside my mouth?
Fear of dentists affects 20% of the population, according to yourfamilyshealth.com. In an article on the Web site, "Overcome Your Fear of the Dentist," writer Fran Worrall explained why people avoid the dentist's chair.
"For many people, regular dental checkups are not high on their list of priorities," she writes.
Dr. Michael Krochak, founder and director of the Dental Phobia Treatment Center of New York, says people skip the dentist not for lack of money or insurance; nor is it that they forgot to make an appointment.
"The reason is fear," he says.
The article says fear is sometimes caused by a traumatic childhood experience.
I can't blame a childhood experience because my parents never took us to the dentist, although my father's job offered insurance. My parents had a wait-and-see attitude when it came to preventive care -- as in wait and see how long you can bear the pain.
Recently, I heard an interview with Dr. Mac Lee on XM Radio. Lee, a third-generation dentist in Edna, Texas, co-wrote the book "Nothing Personal Doc, But I Hate Dentists" (IHD Publishing, $21). His Web site offer a peek into the book and a quiz which includes these questions:
A chocolate bar is worse than hard candy. True or false?
False: Hard candy stays on the teeth and in the grooves of teeth longer.
Toothpaste is not necessary to do a good job brushing. True or false?
True: The way one brushes and the type of brush used are more important than toothpaste.
Which action damages your teeth most?
A. Eating one bar of chocolate candy.
B. Drinking four sugared soft drinks in one sitting.
C. Sipping on one large sugared soft drink all day long.
D. Chewing sugarless gum.
C: It is the frequency of the sugar attack, not the quantity.
Another helpful Web site is www. dentalcomfortzone.com, written by Dr. Jerry Gordon. The column answers questions such as "How do dentists reduce or eliminate pain during dental treatment?" and "What if I still feel pain after the anesthesia is given?"
Another "fear" rarely addressed is, "What if I'm afraid my dentist will scold or embarrass me?"
"This fear seems to have originated years ago when some dentists thought they could "help" their patients by lecturing and/or insulting them," writes Gordon. "Most dentists today realize that this is a poor approach that ultimately backfires by either driving people away or building up a barrier of resentment."
My first Fresno dentist used to lecture me, and eventually, I switched to Dr. Mark Benov. It didn't take long for him to realize I was a dental scaredy-cat. But even his charm was not enough to motivate me to see him on a regular basis. Benov, sensing a flight risk, actually walked me across the office complex to the specialist he recommended take over my dental care.
My, how the gods of dentistry have caught up with me. I, the woman with the biggest sweet tooth in the Valley, have an appointment on the biggest day for candy consumption -- Halloween. May my dental drama be a lesson to others who get weak-kneed at the sound of a dentist's drill.
I really will feel your pain.
The columnist can be reached at maguirre@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6482.
© Copyright 2007 The Fresno Bee
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