Dental Anxiety & fear

 

If you fear going to the dentist, you are not alone.

Between 9% and 20% of Americans avoid going to the dentist

because of anxiety or fear. Indeed, it is a universal phenomenon.

 

There are many reasons why some people have dental phobia

and anxiety. Some of the common reasons include:

• Fear of pain. Fear of pain is a very common reason for                                                                                                 avoiding the dentist. This fear usually stems from an early                                                                                               dental experience that was unpleasant or painful or from                                                                                                 dental "pain and horror" stories told by others. Thanks to                                                                                                      the many advances in dentistry made over the years, most                                                                                                     of today's dental procedures are considerably less painful or even pain-free.

• Fear of injections or fear the injection won't work.

• Fear of anesthetic side effects. Some people fear the potential side effects of anesthesia such as dizziness, feeling faint, or nausea. Others don't like the numbness or "fat lip" associated with local anesthetics.

• Feelings of helplessness and loss of control. It's common for people to feel these emotions considering the situation -- sitting in a dental chair with your mouth wide open, unable to see what's going on.

• Embarrassment and loss of personal space. Many people feel uncomfortable about the physical closeness of the dentist or hygienist to their face. Others may feel self-conscious about the appearance of their teeth or possible mouth odors.

 

The key to Dealing with dental anxiety is to discuss it with your dentist. Once your dentist knows what your fears are, he or she will be better able to work with you to determine the best ways to make you less anxious and more comfortable. 

 Ask your dentist to explain what's happening at every stage of the procedure. This way you can mentally prepare for what's to come. Another helpful strategy is to establish a signal -- such as raising your hand -- when you want the dentist to immediately stop. Use this signal whenever you are uncomfortable, need to rinse your mouth, or simply need to catch your breath.

 

Finally, We can help you with different method of sedation, such as the "laughing gas or the "blue pill."