Take a walk around town and about 7 out of 10 people will tell you they are afraid of the dentist. Out of these 7, half have probably never even been to the dentist before. So what accounts for this fear? Some have heard countless stories of people’s unpleasant experiences at the dentist’s; some have just created a horror movie in their mind where the dentist\u2019s chair is the guillotine and the dentist, the executioner. Others still have the memories of mother’s voice ringing in their ears: “If you don’t behave yourself, I will take you to the dentist and he’ll pull your teeth out!!!”<\/p>\n
But the dentist is not just all about pulling out teeth. We’ve heard it since we were kids: visit your dentist every six months. If you follow this simple rule, the chances of your teeth being pulled out would be close to zero.<\/p>\n
Routinely visiting the dentist is necessary for general examination, which helps in early detection of cavities\/holes in the teeth, and also for making sure gums and teeth are healthy. (No, bleeding from the gums is by no means normal).<\/p>\n
It is very typical for people to wait till there is pain before paying attention to that part of the body…. But every part of your body is meant to last your lifetime, so why take chances? The usual scenario is: person feels pain, person takes a pain killer, person\u2019s pain stops, person forgets about it…. But the absence of pain does not necessarily mean that the disease process has been curtailed. The pain has only been masked, and the damage that the disease wrecks continues unabated.<\/p>\n
The fact that you are not aware of it does not mean it is not taking place. By the time you realize it (usually when a more excruciating pain occurs), it would be just too late; and then, a more extreme procedure would have to be performed. A classic case is dental caries, where holes develop in the tooth, causing pain. The pain is initially mild and abates with everyday pain killers. Early intervention (a simple process known as filling) halts the process, but if it is left unchecked for long, the tooth destruction becomes extensive and a more complex procedure (root canal therapy) or extraction of the tooth would have to be done.<\/p>\n
There are a few things we can do (or not do) to keep our teeth healthy and make the visit to the dentist a pleasant and routine one:<\/p>\n
It is possible to hit 80 years and still have all your teeth intact and healthy. The dentist is your friend, there to make that smile brighter and keep those pearly whites shining. Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. So kick that fear to the curb and visit your dentist today. It will be worth it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
By: Dr. Akosua Quarcoopome (Dentist) and Dr. Kojo Nimako (General Physician)<\/p>\n
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Take a walk around town and about 7 out of 10 people will tell you they are afraid of the dentist. Out of these 7, half have probably never even been to the dentist before. So what accounts for this fear? Some have heard countless stories of people’s unpleasant experiences at the dentist’s; some have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":111659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[8,15],"yoast_head":"\n