If you have a fear of going to the dentist, then learning you need to have a tooth pulled can send you into a panic. If you've not had a dental extraction before, you may imagine it's a painful thing to endure. In reality, pulling a tooth isn't painful because the area is numb. However, that knowledge might not do much to help relieve your dental anxiety. Here are some suggestions on overcoming your fear of the dentist so you can have a bad tooth pulled.

When You Fear The Anesthetic Injection

If your fear of going to the dentist is based on a fear of needles and getting an injection in your mouth, then your dentist probably has a way to help you. Nitrous oxide might be a good solution. You breathe this gas through a nose mask and it relaxes you and helps a little with pain relief. Your dentist might also try a numbing gel on your gums so you don't feel the needle at the time of injection. It may also help to keep your eyes closed so you can't see the needle while the dentist is preparing it. If you're relaxed on nitrous oxide and numb from the gel, you might not even know when the injection happens.

When The Sound Of A Drill Causes Anxiety

If the sound of a dental drill triggers your anxiety, you may be relieved to know your dentist may not need to use a drill for a simple extraction. Other tools are used, but these are pulling and leveraging instruments that don't have the same disturbing sound as a drill. However, you may want to be prepared with headphones and your favorite music in case a drill is needed. Plus, you might hear a drill being used on someone else and that could escalate your anxiety. By blocking out the sound, you'll stay more relaxed.

When You Have General Dental Phobia

Everything about the dentist may alarm you. You might have a fear of pain or discomfort at the thought of the dentist working so close to your face. Let the dentist know about your fears so a solution can be found. You might be given oral relaxation medication or an IV so you can tolerate the dental extraction without having an anxiety attack. As long as your tooth has been numbed, you shouldn't feel any pain. However, you may feel pressure and pulling as the tooth is worked loose. Understanding what's about to happen and what to expect can help you relax some, too.

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