For many people going to the can cause a sense of anxiety. The idea of potential issues like cavities, needing Novocain, or the drill can cause people to panic and avoid going to the dentist for years. This is a bad idea, as it usually leads to bigger issues and complex procedures. The key to overcoming your fear of the dentist is by managing dental anxiety.
What is Dental Anxiety?
Dental Anxiety and Dental Phobia are the fear of the dentist. When someone has a fear of the dentist, it is common for visits to be delayed, put off, or canceled to avoid going. There are many reasons someone may be afraid of the dentist: past trauma, fear of needles or sharp objects, embarrassed, etc. It is important that if you suffer from dental anxiety, that you identify the cause. Once you understand why you have this anxiety, you can find ways to address the fear.
Here are some key ways of managing dental anxiety:
Don’t Avoid the Dentist
The most important thing you need to do is talk with your dentist. If you have fear of what may happen in the office, a simple conversation to review what is planned can go a long way to put your mind at ease. At Shorewood Family Dental Care, our patient’s comfort is our top priority. We want you to feel at ease when you come in for a visit. When you contact us and want to discuss your anxiety, we will work with you to help address any of your concerns. Our staff wants to help make sure you have a positive experience and ensure that you don’t face consequences of delaying your visit.
Get Preventative Care
When it comes to dental anxiety, common causes are caused by the idea of needing injections of Novocain or having to hear the sound of a dental drill helping address tooth decay. One of the best ways to try to help avoid these issues is to see your dentist for your semi-annual checkups and cleanings. These visits are a vital way to help reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, or other serious oral health issues. By keeping up with your cleaning schedule, you will reduce the chances that you may need treatments that cause your anxieties.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
You can help yourself overcome dental anxiety by having and maintaining good oral hygiene routines. Like when you keep up with preventative care, hygiene practices can also help reduce the risks of tooth decay, gum disease, and infections. By protecting your oral healthcare, you will find that a visit to your dentist will be less likely to lead to major treatment needs. If you are not sure how to best protect your teeth, our staff is happy to work with you to develop a plan for you to execute at home.
Sedation Dentistry
Sometimes your anxieties are more than a conversation or preventative care can help with. When this is the case, an option that may help with managing dental anxiety is sedation. This includes our IV Sedation near Joliet option. What does this mean? This means that when you are in for a treatment or preventative care, and your anxieties take over, we can put you to sleep during the procedure. While you are under, we will complete your oral care. If you choose this option, you will come in for treatment, and them wake up after it is complete. Not ever dental office can offer this service, but if you think it is the best option for you to received dental care, contact us at Shorewood Family Dental Care and we can go over this option with you.
Takeaway
Anxiety when it comes to dental care is very real. It is estimated that up to 80% of people face some level of anxiety when it comes to visiting their dentist. While this does not mean that everyone with anxiety has a diagnosable dentophobia, it means that it is common that you may have your apprehensions when visiting a dentist. The most important thing is to understand where this anxiety is coming from and to talk to your dentist. Dentists are here to help you stay healthy, we are not here to hurt you.
If you are in the greater Joliet IL area, contact us at Shorewood Family Dental Care. We are here to provide you with great dental care and will work with you to address your anxieties. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you and the different services we have to put your mind at ease.
