Uneasy chair

And that two hour visit was so terrifying that he stayed away for decades. His gums became so bad that his teeth were loose. Family and friends nagged him to go. I always talked with my hand in front of my mouth he says. Then one day in April Lazar went back. It wasn t easy. I couldn t sleep the entire night before he says. Some have to ride the elevator up and down three or four times before they ll come in. They just don t want to hear the diagnosis says Dr. Kimberly Harms a dentist in Farmington Minn. and an ADA consumer adviser. Until they have an unbearable toothache. For years Weinstein has studied why people don t go to the dentist. If you only go in an emergency there is already something very wrong with your teeth. Addressing that advanced problem is painful and expensive. It reinforces the fear and adds to the problem of dental avoidance Weinstein says. Dentists are trying to address their longtime stereotype as inflicters of pain and disco! mfort. We are becoming more patient focused says Harms. We re looking at the person and not just the teeth. Not enough counters Weinstein. Most dentists are guilty of over treatment. They confront the patient with a laundry list of everything that s wrong. They should ease into it more build some trust give the patient some control. For admitted control freak Mark Barrett of Monroe having input was the key to getting back in the chair. I ve always felt so helpless at the dentist he says. Allowed to choose a program of sedation dentistry Barrett returned to the dentist after years. He s now a regular patient at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry. Barrett went to a chiropractor nearby and over and over he looked at their sign. Then one day I just decided it was time to make a change. Weinstein says that people go back and keep coming back if they believe they can improve their lives. Lazar changed his diet and lost pounds. I m going to lose he says confidently. B! arrett got a new job and Lasik surgery on his eyes. This can have a p rofound impact on someone s life Weinstein says. Peggy Edmunds of Charlotte beat breast cancer but lost one breast. After that she said I m going to live. I m going to survive. Let s fix me up. Edmunds went back to Dr. Lori Pappert the same dentist who treated Gene Lazar. Pappert uses approaches like sedation dentistry and she just kept encouraging me Edmunds says. That encouragement rather than any kind of chiding is the best approach for the dentist experts agree. It s not our job to be judgmental says the ADA s Harms. They don t need a big reprimand says Pappert. Someone who s coming back after years often already feels embarrassed. I can attack an apple now she says. Mark Barrett needed four teeth pulled and a permanent bridge put in. I was just there a week ago he says. I look forward to going. He d found a home. In a sedated session he had four teeth pulled but felt no discomfort. Now he s set for a deep cleaning of plaque and tartar below the gums. ! I don t have any fear but I do think this part might hurt the most he says. He s going to face it. Call the dentist s office and tell the staff you are nervous. Visit the office and interview the dentist. Ask what choices you have in dealing with pain and discomfort. Tell the dentist and the staff what makes you most anxious. Go at a time that s good for you. The last time I clearly remember going is in the mid s and that was just for a cleaning. For years I simply couldn t face the train wreck of my own mouth. I was sure I would walk in and the dentist would gravely say Mr. Elder we have to pull teeth. Then one day in August I got a mailer from a neighborhood dentist. I amazed myself by calling to make an appointment. I amazed myself further by actually going. No teeth were pulled. Gum disease however is an issue. I have become a dental nerd. I flossed while proofreading this story. As I was finishing up the dentist called to reschedule my next appointmen! t.

Source: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/162/story/320780.h tml

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