What is Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety is a highly prevalent condition affecting many people. Dental anxiety is a reaction to an unknown danger and is quite common. Most people experience some degree of dental anxiety, especially if they’re about to have something done that they’ve never experienced before. It’s a fear of the unknown.
What is Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety is a highly prevalent condition affecting many people. Dental anxiety is a reaction to an unknown danger and is quite common. Most people experience some degree of dental anxiety, especially if they’re about to have something done that they’ve never experienced before. It’s a fear of the unknown.
What causes Dental Anxiety?
There are many reasons why some people have dental anxiety. Some of the common reasons include:
Fear of pain
Fear of pain is a very common reason for avoiding the dentist. This fear usually stems from an early dental experience that was unpleasant or painful or from dental “pain and horror” stories told by others. Thanks to the many advances in dentistry made over the years, most of today’s dental procedures are done considering anxious patients to reduce their fear.
Fear of injections or fear the injection won’t work
Many people are terrified of needles, especially when inserted into their mouth. Beyond this fear, others fear that the anesthesia hasn’t yet taken effect or wasn’t a large enough dose to eliminate any pain before the dental procedure begins.
Fear of anesthetic side effects
Some people fear the potential side effects of anesthesia such as dizziness, feeling faint, or nausea. Others don’t like the numbness or “fat lip” associated with local anesthetics.
Feelings of helplessness and loss of control
It’s common for people to feel these emotions considering the situation — sitting in a dental chair with your mouth wide open, unable to see what’s going on
Embarrassment and loss of personal space
Many people feel uncomfortable about the physical closeness of the dentist or hygienist to their face. Others may feel self-conscious about the appearance of their teeth or possible mouth odors.
How to alleviate Dental Anxiety?
The key to coping with dental anxiety is to discuss your fears with your dentist. Once your dentist knows what your fears are, he or she will be better able to work with you to determine the best ways to make you less anxious and more comfortable. If your dentist doesn’t take your fear seriously, find another dentist.
If lack of control is one of your main stressors, actively participating in a discussion with your dentist about your treatment can ease your tension. Ask your dentist to explain what’s happening at every stage of the procedure. This way you can mentally prepare for what’s to come. Another helpful strategy is to establish a signal — such as raising your hand — when you want the dentist to immediately stop. Use this signal whenever you are uncomfortable, need to rinse your mouth, or simply need to catch your breath.
If lack of control is one of your main stressors, actively participating in a discussion with your dentist about your treatment can ease your tension. Ask your dentist to explain what’s happening at every stage of the procedure. This way you can mentally prepare for what’s to come. Another helpful strategy is to establish a signal — such as raising your hand — when you want the dentist to immediately stop. Use this signal whenever you are uncomfortable, need to rinse your mouth, or simply need to catch your breath.
