Anxiety and Fear of the Dentist

Are you scared of the dentist? Don’t worry – you’re not the only one who is suffering from dental phobia.
Millions of people across the world experience same dental fear or dental anxiety, though they may not admit it themselves. Dentist phobia is a common problem among young patients or even adults who have suffered traumatic experiences while undergoing dental treatments in their childhood. They may suffer dentist anxiety before an appointment or even during the dental treatment and anti- anxiety medications and may be needed to calm down. The fear of injection (Trypanophobia) is probably one of the most frequent complaints patients have about visiting the dentist. Fear of needle pricks is quite understandable – no one likes the idea of a needle piercing their mouth. Just the thought of it makes one fear.

Let’s consider some common dentist fear and anxiety reasons.

• Fear of embarrassment about the condition of teeth.

• Traumatic dental experiences

• Fear of needles

• Fear of awful tooth pain

• Fear of sharp dental instruments and their sound

• Very sensitive teeth

• Extensive dental problems

• Difficulty getting numb

• Too busy schedule to complete dental treatment

• Bad experiences with local anesthesia that didn’t work

How can one overcome dental anxiety?

Overcoming one’s dental anxiety and dental fear is very important as many people try to shun their dental appointments out of this overwhelming dental phobia. As our dental health is very important so it becomes extremely necessary to receive regular dental checkups and cleanings sessions.

Here are some tips to help reduce dental fear and anxiety:

• Talk to the dentist – You are always recommended to freely communicate your dental fears and anxiety to your dentist , if any, so that he can take extra precautions during your dental visits.
• Bring a portable music player – Soothing music acts as a great relaxant and stress -reliever that transports you into another world. Listening to calm music can greatly help you reduce dental anxiety during your visits.
• Sedation – If you are finding no other effective alternative to overcome your dental fear then sedation offers an excellent option as it induces a state of deep relaxation and a feeling of not being bothered by what’s going on.
• Spray the throat – Throat sprays such as Vicks® Chloraseptic® Throat Spray have the ability to fully control the gag reflex
• Ask about alternatives – With the latest development and advancement in the dentistry, there are number of cosmetic dentistry options available used to prepare teeth for fillings, whiten teeth and remove staining. Have a discussion with your dentist and choose the one which is most effective and cause minimal anxiety.