Dental anxiety is one of the most common reasons for people to avoid seeing a dentist regularly. The problem is, if you do not visit for long enough, dental problems can progress beyond the point of fixing. This puts you at a higher risk of other health problems.Fortunately, some dentists know how to deal with patients with anxiety. You too can do things to help reduce your fear and feel better during a dental visit.https://sunrise-dentistry.com/blog/dental-anxiety-9-ways-to-stop-your-fear-of-the-dentist/
Dental Anxiety: 9 Ways to
Stop Your Fear of the
Dentist
B LOG | S UNR I S E D EN T I S T R Y
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
Do you fear to visit a dentist? Perhaps
your kids are anxious too about dental
checkups? You are not alone. Dental
anxiety is extremely common. It has
been estimated that 9% to 15% of
people in the US are afraid of a dentist.
This prevents them from getting
proper dental care and the
consequences may go far beyond
dental problems. Gum disease is a
serious infection that can affect
general health. In fact, evidence
shows that it is associated with
diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Luckily, many dentists are highly-
trained in handling anxious patients.
Also, you can do several things to help
manage your anxiety.
What Are the Most Common
Causes of Dental Anxiety?
There are several reasons why people
have dental anxiety:
Pain
This is perhaps the most common
reason patients avoid visiting a
dentist. This normally stems from a
previous unpleasant experience or
negative stories.
Anesthetic Side Effects
Some people fear the potential side
effects of anesthesia like nausea
and dizziness. Others also do not
like the numbness effect or “fat lip”
associated with local anesthesia.
Feelings of Helplessness
It is understandable for people to feel
this emotion considering the
situation. During a dental procedure,
you sit in a chair with your mouth
wide open but unable to see what is
going on.
Embarrassment and Loss of
Personal Space
Not everyone is comfortable being
physically close to a dentist. One may
feel conscious about the appearance
of his or her teeth or possible mouth
odors.
Cost
Dental procedures can be expensive,
especially if you do not have
insurance to cover it. While regular
dental visits may help reduce the
need for more costly treatments,
others still worry about the possible
cost of a routine checkup.
Other Medical Conditions
Previous trauma to the head and
neck, agoraphobia, claustrophobia,
and obsessive-compulsive disorder
can make dental checkups more
difficult.
What Are the Si