Going to the dentist is everyone's worst nightmare. Yes, you're absolutely right; the noise and coldness of the instruments are not pleasant at all. You might think the doctor, wearing gloves and a mask, walking towards you in a white coat with his big eyes, looks like Frankenstein (though we can't quite agree with that).

The inside of our mouth is a very private place for us. Our hands, eyes, and face are always exposed, but no one can see inside our mouths; even we can't see them clearly. Therefore, having procedures done inside our mouths can be uncomfortable. Holding the mouth open for extended periods is also tiring. Our mouth is our primary means of communication, and because we can't speak during treatment, we feel cut off from the world. If the phone rings, we can't answer it; if we want to say something, we can't say it; if they ask a question, we can't answer it. We don't like this feeling of confinement. We fear it will hurt, and this fear is more agonizing than the pain itself.

Sometimes our patients open their mouths, close their eyes, and surrender to us, but their expression is such that their entire face is contorted, all their muscles are tense (We ask if it hurts because the last thing we want to do is cause pain to our patients; on the contrary, we wear our scrubs every day to ease their pain). The patient is not in any pain, but they torture themselves by wondering if it hurts now or if it will hurt now.

We may not always be able to control it, but it's important to stay relaxed; staying calm can relieve 80% of the stress we inflict on ourselves. Of course, there's also the fear of needles, a fear unlike any other. The pain of a needle penetrating the tissue lasts only a second or two, but we start to inflict the pain of those two seconds a week before our appointment. We're supposed to get the injection once, but we spend hundreds of weeks thinking about that injection, hundreds of times a week. Suddenly, we decide to be brave, and at that moment, our friend, knowing we're going to the dentist, tells us all about her awful needle adventures.

Sometimes those imaginary injections hurt so much they force us to cancel our appointments. While we're living the joy of escaping the pain of that injection, suddenly, in the middle of the night, the pain from a tooth we've neglected to treat grips us. Brushing doesn't help, drinking raki, or taking medication. Morning doesn't come either, and after those long hours, we rush to the doctor as soon as the sun rises, hoping to get him an injection. Things get harder, and the treatments we need increase. We're in pain, requiring more frequent visits, and the treatments we're offered cost more. Now, let's consider who's hurting us... The real culprit isn't our own fears or negligence. Rest assured, our doctor is the most innocent person in this situation. So, let's start making our way to the doctor for those teeth we've been neglecting for so long, or pick up the phone and make an appointment.

Don't forget,
I AM HERE TO MAKE YOU SMILE HEALTHY...