Take That First Step to Kick Your Dental Phobia to the Curb

75% of American adults have some sort of anxiety over visiting the dentist, while 10% have full-blown dental phobia. It’s these individuals that suffer from just the thought of going to the dentist. It’s no surprise then that the number of Americans with some level of gum disease is also close to the same percentage as those with dental anxiety, fear and phobia.

Most dental fears stem from a past traumatic experience in a dental office. Oftentimes, this experience happened during childhood, and the memories are so ingrained that anything dental related recreates the trauma.

While it’s unfortunate that dental phobia even exists, today’s dentists are very sensitive to each individual’s feelings, and they take extra precautions to ensure a safe, comfortable and overall enjoyable experience for their patients. We have helped countless patients get over their fear of the dentist, and now we want to help you. However, in order to do so, we need to get you into our office first.

If you suffer from any level of dental fear or anxiety, use some of these suggestions to help you take that first step:

·      Have a close friend or family member call for you, if you cannot make the call yourself.

·      Ask questions before you come in. What kind of training does the dentist have? Are they experienced in treating fearful patients? What comfort options are available? Is there an initial consultation in which you can go in and get acquainted with the office and staff before your appointment?

·      Visit the office after hours just to get used to walking up to the door.

·      If the consultation room isn’t removed from the clinical section – meaning you’ll hear certain noises that may make you uncomfortable – consider finding another office.

·      If you don’t leave the dentist’s office without feeling reassured, that dentist is probably not for you.

·      Check to see if the office offers Oral Sedation.  

·      If sedation is used, ask about safety monitoring equipment and staff training.

It’s important that you go at a pace that is comfortable for you, because if you try to rush into dental treatment before you find a dental team you’re comfortable working with, you may psyche yourself into a deeper dental phobia. It’s important to understand you may never be able to approach dental care without some sort of anxiety, but in the proper hands, you can accomplish the necessary treatment for a healthy and beautiful smile.

If you have not seen a dentist in years due to severe anxiety or fear, and if you’re experiencing any sort of pain or discomfort, I urge you: give us a call today. Our gentle and caring dental team has experience working with dental phobic patients, and we work with them to get them the care they need, in a way that’s most comfortable for them. Visit us at http://www.lakeshorefamilydentist.com/staff.html to see why we’re the dental team for you.