What to Know About Dental Phobia

With the little amount of free time that you have, the last thing you want to do is go to the dentist. But hopefully, you do whatever possible to set aside an hour or two every six months to have your teeth cleaned. Unfortunately, many people have severe anxiety when it comes to the dentist. It’s common for our practice to see patients who put off routine care for years or even decades because they absolutely dread dental care. Consequently, they make an appointment with us because they could just no longer take the pain of gum disease or unsightly teeth. Our staff at BeaverBrooke Dental understands the reality of this phobia. In this blog post, we will dive into some interesting statistics and how our staff can help you feel at ease during your appointment.

It’s estimated that up to 15 percent of Americans avoid seeing the dentist because of anxiety and fear. In case you’re curious, that’s a whopping 30 million people. Granted, there are varying degrees of dental anxiety. Those with extreme cases may opt to never see a dentist. Others, meanwhile, might have to be pestered by friends and family to make an appointment. In some instances, patients literally get sick while in the waiting room.

Let’s look at some of the common causes of dental phobia and anxiety:

1. Pain – It wasn’t until recently that sedation and pain-free dentistry became popular. For adults 24 years and older, there’s a decent chance that they experienced some pain during early dental visits.
2. Feelings of helplessness – Some folks really struggle in situations in which they feel they have no control. They can’t stand sitting still and not being able to predict what’s going to hurt, if anything. It’s no secret that this anxiousness can lead to dental fear.
3. Embarrassment – Are you self-conscious about how your teeth look? You’re not alone. We’ve found that many patients don’t like the physical closeness that’s involved during treatment. This discomfort can also play a part in phobia.
4. Negative past experience – This could be the most common cause of dental fear. Let’s say, for example, that you had cavities as a kid. For whatever reason, the hygienist didn’t provide enough of the numbing agent. As a result, you experienced severe pain from a standard procedure. You’ve been reluctant to go the dentist ever since.
5. Cost – Most insurance companies will cover standard cleanings and x-rays. But once you get into dental implants, braces, veneers, extractions, and root canal surgeries, you should expect some out-of-pocket expenses. If you know that you require some major dental work, you may have some fear over the cost.

At BeaverBrooke Dental, we truly care about your smile and comfort. Our dental office is much more patient-friendly than the one you remember going to as a kid. While you wait for your appointment, relax in our reception area with cable TV, refreshments (including freshly baked cookies), and comfy oversized chairs. Once the hygienist is ready, you will be treated to plush upholstered dental chairs with big-screen TVs. You can feel comfortable knowing that our family dental care office surpasses all OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and CDC (Center for Disease Control) standards. Using the latest pain-free dentistry techniques, we strive to make your experience at Beaver Brooke an enjoyable one.

From sleep apnea remedies and dental bonding to dentures and dental bridges, see what we can do for you. Call now to schedule your appointment.