How to Get Your Husband to Go to the Dentist
It’s not at all uncommon knowledge that regular dental treatment is an important part of an overall health regimen. We’re told throughout our lives by parents, doctors and dentists that keeping your mouth, gums and teeth healthy can prevent tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath and infection. However, even if your husband knows this, he may still be one of the many guys out there who resist seeking out dental care.
Poor oral health shouldn’t be overlooked however, as it has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and many other health issues unrelated to the mouth and teeth. With that in mind, we’ve put together some helpful tips to help guide your significant other to overcome their objections.
Communicate Your Concerns in a Positive Way
The first step in helping your husband to seek dental care is to communicate your concerns while showing that you understand where he is coming from as well. If you notice that he has bad breath, receding gums, discoloured teeth or pain in the jaw or mouth, try to approach him gently and express your concern about his discomfort. Let him describe what he’s feeling, and let him know that you’re willing to help him get treatment.
Address His Fears
Fear is the main reason people usually avoid going to the dentist. More than 75% of people worldwide experience anxiety about dental treatment. This fear may stem from a traumatic childhood experience: the sound of drills, a fear of pain or a fear of needles. Let your husband know that you have found a clinic that is sensitive to a patient’s fears.
Research Local Dentists
Find a clinic nearby that works well with reluctant patients. Many clinics offer several types of sedation to cater to their patients’ individual needs, arrange tours of the clinic, and have pre-treatment conversations with the dentist to turn a scary, unknown environment into a familiar environment with an understanding team. You can offer to go with your husband to meet the dental team for his appointment.
We also use intraoral cameras at each station that show what the dentist sees so patients can view any issues and discuss treatment. We also offer several types of sedation, including nitrous oxide, local sedation, oral medication, twilight sedation and general anaesthesia. We discuss these options when we schedule your treatment.
Is The Cost Holding Him Back?
Your husband may feel that dental treatment is too expensive. However, Maudsland Dental Care, like many clinics, will accept many types of health and dental insurance. To ensure we can provide care to as many patients as possible, we are preferred providers for a number of health funds and can also arrange an interest-free payment schedule for those who have difficulty with payment.
Address Embarrassment
Some men dislike the idea of leaning back in a chair and having a stranger working in their mouth. Because men are usually brought up to be strong and in control, this situation may make a man feel as if he has relinquished control.
He may also dislike the idea of gagging or having his mouth numbed. Let him know that he can work out a signal during treatment to let the dentist know he needs to pause for a few minutes. This lets your husband remain in control of the situation and remain comfortable.
Your husband may also be embarrassed about the condition of his teeth. If this is the case, reassure him that seeking treatment is important to his overall health, and the longer treatment is delayed, the more likely it is that a person will have further health problems.
Early treatment means less expense, less trauma and fewer major problems. Delaying treatment can result in more pain and allow simple problems to develop into complex issues.
For more information about how we can help your husband and loved ones, contact our friendly staff at Maudsland Dental Care on 07 5580 0621. Online bookings are also welcome!
