Fearful of the Dentist? You're Not Alone

If you are someone who dreads going to the dentist, even as an adult, don't worry because you are not alone. Your fear of the dentist is legitimate, we all have fears of things; we all tend to have fears of going to a doctor of any kind because our health is so valuable and any fixes needed are often pricey. We worry that we will find some big problem with something about our body, we all do it to some extent.

I wish the dentist was an exception to this fear but I know believing that would be a fallacy. However, fearing going to the dentist does not have to prevent you from going to the dentist. There are some steps one can take to minimize the fear, at least enough to enable going to the dentist and getting proper care of your mouth.

1. Finding the right dentist. There are so many dentists in the country, thousands perhaps. Finding the right dentist for you does not have to be like finding the needle in the haystack (sorry for the cliché). But it is true. As a dentist in Park Ridge Illinois, I get a lot of customers from the community but there are a couple that are from a bit farther than a 5-10 minute drive so it is common to want a dentist even if they are a bit of a drive. Don't just settle for a dentist, choose a dentist. The right dentist for you who knows you beyond just your teeth should help reduce your fear. 
2. If your fear is real bad, then sedation could be an option for you. There are several ways to get sedated for your dentist appointments. There are pills your dentist can give you, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), novocaine, etc. The laughing gas and novocaine are usually used for more serious procedures but talk to your dentist, perhaps they can work something out for general appointments. 
3. Take baby steps. Don't worry about scheduling the whole deal for your first visit. Schedule some general appointments like cleanings and see how those go. Perhaps all you need is a good experience to introduce you to the dentist or to move forward from a bad past experience. My Park Ridge dental office does a few different services and so we let you schedule things when you can. 
4. For children, bringing a toy or something of comfort will help the fear as well. Many children have a favorite toy, especially a toy or something that is comforting to them. Hey, if you're an adult and have to bring something to calm you in the waiting room, go for it. 
5. Breathing exercises will help too. You know, deep breath through your nose and exhale via your mouth or nose? Finding a peaceful place in your mind will help. Just don't fall asleep, dentists kind of need patients to be awake for most things. 
1. Having a positive mindset will do great things. 
6. Bring a buddy. Need a friend or loved one to join you on your visit? Pick em up! There is no shame in bringing some support. For all anyone knows, they needed a ride, you needed a ride, whatever. 

If you are looking for a dentist, specifically a dentist in Park Ridge then give us a call! 847-825-1002. We would love to help you, even if you are fearful of the dentist. 

We are a park ridge dentist office, located near Chicago. We do teeth in one day and dental implants. We don't make you wait for your appointment. Go ahead and contact us. 

When Should I See a Dentist? -- FAQ Dental Question

Some people love going to the dentist and some people hate going to the dentist. Generally, people do not like it; we get it, this is not something you jump at the opportunity to do. However, there are times when you should absolutely go to the dentist. If you experience one of the following situations, please, go to a dentist.

• If you get your tooth knocked out. As a dentist near Park Ridge I see people come into my office with a missing tooth. This happens more than you would think. If you do have a tooth knocked out, there are a few things you should do. Remember, immediately go to a dentist if you loose a tooth. 
• The first thing is find the tooth, if you can. If you cannot find the tooth, then obviously still go to the dentist but your resolution will have to be different than simply putting the tooth back in. If you do find the tooth, there is a chance the dentist can put the tooth back in. 
• Should you find the tooth, hold the tooth by the chewing end, the white part of the tooth that is normally seen in your mouth; do not hold the tooth by the root since this will damage the root and minimize the chances of successful reinsertion. 
• Keep the tooth moistened. You can keep the tooth moistened by sticking the tooth back in the spot where it was removed, placing it between your cheek and your gums, or placing the tooth in milk. 
• Keep the tooth clean as well. If the tooth has become dirty, gently rinse the tooth in some water. 
• If the tooth cannot be pushed back in, it is possible to get dental implants that look completely natural and fit with your mouth. 
• If you break or chip your tooth. This can happen from anything so just try to be careful. The degree of which a tooth can break or chip can vary so there are different ways the dentist will treat this one. If you can find the piece of the tooth, then put it in a damp cloth. You should schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as you can. This is not quite as serious as losing an entire tooth but is still a big deal and can be quite uncomfortable. 
• Getting a tooth moved out of position. Sometimes, you're doing something and you get hit in the mouth; while the hit did not knock out your tooth entirely, it can shift your tooth. If this happens, schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as you can. If this happens:
• You can try to push the tooth back into position but do so gently. Do not force the tooth back into position or you can injury the spot further. 
• Try to keep the tooth in place by applying pressure to it; perhaps the easiest way to do this is to bite down on the tooth but if you prefer to use a finger, that works too. 
• If you have toothache or pain. These are not emergencies but still can be rather uncomfortable. If you have severe pain, then schedule an appointment with a dentist in Park Ridge immediately. Look for other symptoms as well such as:
• Swelling or redness
• Bleeding or puss leakage
• Tenderness
• Fever
• Jaw pain. Again, this is most likely not an emergency but is still something that you should have checked out by a dentist. 

Bottom line, if you have something painful or questionable going on in your mouth, make an appointment with a dentist. Your mouth is not something you should be neglecting. If you are in Chicagoland, then contact Rubino Dentistry, a Park Ridge dentist. 

5 Easy To Follow Dental Tips

Keeping our teeth healthy is always something that we struggle with as people, well, most people. For some reason, a lot of people think that teeth are going to be perfect no matter

what or at least that taking serious care of teeth is an option. Well, it's not. If you do not take care of your teeth you can be in a world of trouble as you age. Here are five tips for you to follow that are simple and do not require you to buy any expensive dental tools. 

1. Brush your teeth twice a day, at least. Brushing your teeth twice a day is the minimum you should brush your teeth, if you can, brush them three times. This process is the minimum requirement in taking proper care of your teeth. As you probably know, brushing your teeth removes the plaque from your teeth and keeps that junk from forming cavities. This process also helps remove food caught in your teeth; which if that stuff is left in your teeth, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and that's just no good. 
2. Avoid smoking. If you have taken any health classes, you will know that smoking causes your teeth to be yellow and causes you to get bad breath. Smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, any tobacco) can increase the chances of oral cancer. Obviously, the more you smoke, the greater the chances are of developing oral cancer. This tip also applies to chewing tobacco. So no, that is not a loophole. If you have a smoking addiction, see that you can break it; it will not be easy but it will help your oral health in the long run. 
3. Eat & Drink good things. Eating things with a lot of sugar, such as candy & desserts is easy because they are just so darn tasty but the reality is that they leave sugar and other things on your teeth that can be bad if you do not take proper care of your teeth. This also applies to things like soda and coffee. While they are good tasting, they are not good for your teeth. If you have to drink those things, try to use straws. Also, you can eat desserts, just don't do too much and still try to avoid eating things that leave junk all over your teeth like taffy, sucking candy, gummy things, etc. Try to drink water and tea since they help keep junk off of your teeth. If the drink or food has acid in it, just be careful and don't let the acid bathe your teeth. 
4. Floss, floss, floss. Can I emphasize that enough? Flossing is not something you should dismiss. Get that stuff out and use it. It helps catch all the things, including plaque, that bury themselves in between your teeth. If traditional flossing is too difficult, then you have a couple options: get floss picks that already have the floss taught on a pick OR you can get tools such as WaterPiks that shoot water around your mouth and do the same effect as flossing. 
5. Get your fluoride on. Use toothpastes, etc that have the fluoride since that helps keep your teeth strong; you need to keep your teeth strong against cavities. 

As a dentist in Park Ridge, Rubino Dentistry is all about helping people take care of their teeth. There has never been a broader range of dental services in Park Ridge, IL, a patient can choose from. Our commitment to providing our patients with the latest, proven dental services and our desire to personalize each visit sets us apart from most dental practices. Your comfort, time, and understanding of your oral health needs frame our recommendations and each visit to our office.