Dental Phobia

How many times have you heard someone say "I hate going the dentist"? People who are very fearful of dental care often experience a "cycle of avoidance", in which they avoid dental care until they experience a dental emergency requiring invasive treatment, which can reinforce their fear of dentistry. 75% of US adults experience some degree of dental fear, from mild to severe. Approximately 5 to 10% of US adults are considered to experience dental phobia to the degree they avoid dental care at all cost. Women tend to report more dental fear then men and younger people tend to report being more dentally fearful than older individuals. There are two categories of dental fear direct and indirect.

Direct experience is the most common. Most people will say that their dental fear began after they experienced a painful or difficult treatment.

Indirect experiences are when a person hears of some else's traumatic experiences and/or negativity towards dentistry. A person may also preceive a sense of helplessness and/or loss of control. Mass media and cartoons may also contribute to dental fears. Fear caused by indirect experiences become a self-fulfilling prophecy "you believe it therefore it is".

Signs of dental phobia:
     Trouble sleeping the night before the dental appointment.
     Feelings of nervousness that escalate while in the dental office waiting room.
     Crying or feeling physically ill at the thought of visiting the dentist.
     Intense uneasiness at the thought of, or actually when, objects are placed in your mouth during 
     dental treatment or suddenly feeling like it is difficult to breath.

To help our patients overcome either types of these fears:
     We take intraoral photos to help explain the need for treatment.
     Explain exactly what the procedure is and how it will be done.
     Make sure to administer local anesthetic slowly and pain free with the use of the DentalVibe.
     Provide dark glasses and music of your choice.
    Allow our patient to stop any time during a procedure to take a break or disuss any concerns.