Also known as dental phobia or odontophobia, dental anxiety is common in patients of all ages. Extreme nervousness and apprehension about visiting the dentist come to those with dental anxiety and can often make it difficult to perform any type of dental work on the patient. While it may seem impossible to overcome dental anxiety, there are ways to help keep you calm or alleviate fears about going to the dental office.
Common Dental Fears
A combination of fears and worries can contribute to dental anxiety. While not everyone will experience the same fears, there are some common ones that dentists encounter in their chairs.
Fear Of Needles
One of the most common dental anxiety fears is the fear of needles. This is a very common fear in the dental and medical world. Many do not like needles in or around their bodies and this can cause intense apprehension about going to the dentist.
Because dentists often have to use needles for numbing the mouth, or other needle-like objects to inspect the teeth, it can be hard to keep a patient calm during these appointments. Numbing gels or keeping the patient distracted while using the needle are ways that dentists and dental assistants can work around this.
Past Traumatic Experiences
It is common for adults to have had multiple procedures or dental surgeries in their lifetime. For those who have had past dental surgeries or past traumatic experiences at a dentist, going again can be triggering. These patients may worry they will experience the same pain as last time, may get an infection, or may lose their teeth.
If you had a bad experience with another dentist, voice your concerns to the new dental team before proceeding. They may be able to answer your questions and provide solutions for any worries you may have. Oftentimes, dental anxiety fears can be squashed when you have the proper knowledge.
Sensory Or Noise Overload
For patients with disabilities or other mental illnesses, noise, and sensory overload can be a major hurdle when going to the dentist. Drills, suction devices, metal scrapping, and other normal sounds of the office can be overwhelming. Noise and sensory overload can elicit physical symptoms as well, like vomiting, headache, dizziness, or rapid heart rate.
Using noise-cancelling headphones or listening to calming music can be helpful for some patients. Others may need to be sedated for the dentist to calmly work on the teeth.
Embarrassment
For patients with damaged teeth or worries about their oral hygiene, visiting the dentist can be filled with a lot of anxiety. The fear of being judged by the dentist or being told that your oral hygiene practices are not good enough can keep people from visiting the dentist at all.
Your dentist will not judge you for anything going on in your mouth. Central Davis Dental has worked with patients of all ages and all backgrounds. There is no dental problem that we haven’t encountered. Our team is here to help all patients look and feel their best.
How To Cope With Dental Anxiety
Patients may not be able to completely get over their dental anxiety, but there are some ways to help patients cope. There are also ways to help patients make it through appointments safely.
Seeking counseling or therapy for your dental anxiety can help you identify the root cause. You will be able to work through some trauma and learn calming techniques from a therapist that you can use while in the chair.
Patients with disabilities may benefit from Sedation Dentistry which puts a patient to sleep while the dentist does a cleaning, wisdom teeth removal, or filling. Sedation Dentistry can be a way to help patients keep up with their oral health without causing them unnecessary stress.
Providing patients with a distraction can help them focus on something other than the dental work. Many dental offices provide movies, music, or earplugs to help patients with dental anxiety.
Help From Our Dental Office
If you are still worried about your appointment, either of our dentists at Central Davis Dental can talk with patients before their appointment. Talking with our dentist when you know that no dental work will occur can relieve some pressure. We are happy to explain your procedures before you have them and answer questions. Each member of our team wants to help you have the best experience possible. Whether patients are in need of a cleaning or an extensive dental procedure, we are here for you.