If you’d rather be anywhere else in the world than seated in your dentist’s chair, you aren’t alone; it’s estimated that a whopping 75% of adults in the US have some level of dental-related anxiety! Unfortunately, this fear of dental care is often the reason that patients prolong necessary treatment and end up with serious problems down the road. Keep reading to learn more about dental phobia and some of the ways it can be effectively managed so that you’re able to easily get your smile the help it needs.
A Closer Look at Dental Phobia
Simply put, dental phobia is an extreme fear of seeing the dentist for treatment. It’s recognized by the American Psychiatric Association and is pretty simple to diagnose; you might have the condition if your fear of the dentist occurs when you arrive at their office or even when you think about visiting them! A few common symptoms that patients experience include sweating, heart palpitations, low blood pressure, and other general signs of panic. Sometimes patients might even faint due to uneasiness.
This condition can sometimes be so severe and debilitating that it causes patients to avoid necessary treatment, even when they’re in pain. Some notable causes of dental phobia include:
- A traumatic dental experience from the past
- Previous trauma to the head or neck
- Fear of loss of control
- Generalized anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Trust issues
How Sedation Dentistry Can Help
Unfortunately, one of the biggest effects of dental-related anxiety is the toll it can take on oral health in the form of tooth decay, gum disease, and other problems—which means that finding solutions for making dental visits more comfortable for anxious patients is crucial. This is where sedation dentistry comes into play.
Your dentist can provide different forms of sedation to make the course of treatment easier for all parties involved, including options like nitrous oxide, a pill taken before your appointment, or even IV sedation. The purpose of this is to help you relax during treatment, with the added benefit of making the treatment itself easier and often quicker to perform. The type of sedation used will depend on one’s individual circumstances, but each is an incredibly effective means of countering dental-related anxiety!
Additional Ways of Managing Dental Phobia
In addition to sedation dentistry, it’s also worth mentioning that the following can also assist with dental phobia:
- Deep breathing exercises, meditation, and other relaxation techniques
- Distractions such as music, white noise, guided imagery, etc.
- Hypnotherapy
Dental phobia can afflict anybody; but nobody has to needlessly endure the condition and prolong necessary treatment, especially when sedation dentistry can offer so many effective solutions.
About the Practice
South Florida Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery proudly serves patients and families in the Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and Royal Palm Beach communities. They offer a wide range of services that can easily solve even the most complex of dental issues. And better yet, if you suffer from dental anxiety, they’re pleased to offer sedation dentistry! If you have any questions about the article, feel free to contact the practice online to find the location closest to you.