Being scared of the dentist is a worldwide problem. Fear can take many forms, from nervousness to all-out panic. For mild sufferers, visiting the dentist is an unpleasant experience. But for a significant minority of acute phobics, anxiety can be intense enough to deter visiting the dentist altogether.
Understanding Dental Phobia
Phobia, fear and anxiety have strong adverse reactions and can take many forms. Understanding the nature and causes of your dental phobia can help free you from the fear.
Fear
Fear is a fundamental human survival instinct arising naturally in the nervous system, and without it, we would have difficulty avoiding danger. Elevated heart rate, sweaty palms, nausea and a sense of panic are some of the symptoms of fear.
Phobia
Phobias evokes sense of fear usually out of proportion to the danger posed. When we feel terrified, our worries could be described as irrational. This is the point at which fears become phobias.
Causes of Dental Phobia
Dental phobia is most often rooted by a past unpleasant experience. Some of the most common causes include:
Childhood Experiences
Children have little understanding of what is happening when visiting the dentist for the first time. This lack of knowledge and past unpleasant associations can cause the phobia to form.
Outdated Equipment
A visit to the dentist 20 years ago had loud sounding drills and other screeching noises. With lasers and other modern technology, a lot of those scry noises are a thing of the past.
Bad Experience
It only takes a single negative or painful experience to cause a lasting phobia.
Tips To Overcome Your Dental Phobia
You can’t fix a problem until you first admit that a problem exists. Try as best you can to pinpoint where the fear originated.
- Talk to you dentist about your fears
- Distract yourself with music
- Bring someone who makes you feel comfortable
- Ask if your dentist offers sedation
- Seek help from a medical professional
- Tour the office before your appointment
- Dress comfortable and bring a blanket
People who’s anxiety is serious enough that they will avoid going to the dentist are at risk of developing problems such as tooth decay, gum disease or tooth damage. It’s worth it to overcome your fear.
Dr. Sanchez and his staff are skilled at treating dental phobia. Dr. Sanchez makes it a priority to help patients be more comfortable in the dental chair, for the benefit of their smiles and overall health. Through IV Sedation, patients can relax and sleep through their dental treatments and wake up with little to no memory of the procedure. Let the staff at Sedation and Implant Dentistry of Tehachapi help you get the dental treatments you need and restore your oral health. Contact us for a dental appointment online or call us at (661) 822-3727.
