If you’re afraid of the dentist, you’re definitely not alone. Not only are these worries completely natural, but there are ways that you can overcome them. Not visiting a professional for a checkup and cleaning every six months due to anxiety and fear could put your dental health at risk, causing you to develop more cavities and gum disease that could cause permanent damage to your mouth. Read on to learn why so many people have dental phobias and how a sedation dentist can help you feel relaxed.
Helpless Feeling
Many people find that when they visit their dentist, they don’t feel in control of anything that’s going to happen. The act of reclining in the treatment chair can also make this helpless feeling even worse. A good way to help combat this feeling is to prepare yourself for your appointment beforehand and visit a dentist that you can trust.
Seeing Your Parents Frightened of the Dentist
If you grew up with a parent who also had a fear of the dentist, you likely share that with them. As humans, we learn from our surroundings, including the people around us. Especially as a child, you were easily influenced by your parents. A great way to deconstruct this fear is to have several good experiences with a dentist that you trust, disproving the notion that you may have grown up with that dentists are scary.
Bad Past Experience
It’s not uncommon for people to have bad dental experiences that make every one following that dreadful. Something as simple as a rough cleaning or as serious as a bad crown-job could cause this anxiety to linger, which is why it’s a good idea to visit a dentist who is skilled, experienced, and qualified, so you won’t have to worry about experiencing these issues again.
Fear of Receiving Bad News
Nobody likes hearing that they need a tooth extracted or a deep cleaning because they have gum disease. This could cause you to avoid visiting the dentist, because if you don’t hear it from a professional, it makes it seem like there isn’t a problem. Unfortunately, dental health issues only get worse over time. That means that you’ll likely cause yourself more discomfort down the road if you don’t take care of the issue now.
What’s So Different About Sedation Dentists?
Sedation dentists are experienced and familiar with working with patients who suffer from dental anxiety and fear. They have the techniques and specialized training to help patients feel relaxed, comfortable, and at-ease while they sit in the treatment chair. With nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation, they’re able to help patients who have been too scared to visit a dentist for years take care of their smile and preserve the health of their teeth and gums.
Dental anxiety can occur on a spectrum of severity, depending on what the root of your fear is and how intensely it impacts your daily life leading up to your appointment. However, when you let your anxiety win, it can increase your risk of developing cavities and lead to declining oral health, which will likely result in you needing more invasive and costly procedures down the road. That’s why the best way to protect your mental and physical wellbeing is to speak with your sedation dentist about how you can feel more comfortable receiving treatment.
About the Author
Dr. Parnam Mohanna understands what it’s like to feel scared of the dentist, and has always wanted to help each of his patients feel more comfortable in the treatment chair. That’s why he has completed advanced education courses on different sedation techniques, including oral sedation. He has decades of experience helping his patients get their dental health back on track by providing them with fear-free dentistry. For questions or to schedule a consultation to learn more about sedation dentistry, visit Complete Cosmetic Care Dentistry’s website or call 918-216-1000.