Overcoming Dental Phobia

Overcoming Dental Phobia

Dental PhobiaAre you one of these people that postpone your appointment with the dentist for as long as you can get away with it? The feeling of distress associated with visiting the dentist, also known as dental phobia, is a very common situation affecting thousands of people. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that one in four of us dread a visit to the dentist and this is due to many factors such as bad childhood experiences, fear of pain or fear of ‘the needle’.

The experienced dental team at Garden View Dental Care will ensure that you will be as comfortable as possible during your visit to the dentist by employing the latest technology to ensure minimum or no pain at all. Tooth anesthesia is achieved by a small hand piece, CompuDent, that looks like a pen controlled by a computer, thus allowing the dentist to anaesthetise even the most remote part of your mouth painlessly.

What causes dental phobia?

Dental phobia may be attributed to various factors which are sometimes specific to the individual and his environment. The most common concern shared among people who are afraid to visit the dentist is the possibility of pain: surveys have shown that a significant percentage of people who have not visited the dentist for more than twelve months suffer from fear of pain. Fear of pain affects mostly people who are older than 25 years. It is, therefore, possible that they did not enjoy the advantages of ‘pain-free’ dentistry during their childhood.

Other possible causes of dental phobia may be attributed to embarrassment. The mouth is a very intimate part of the human body and people can feel uncomfortable with the physical closeness required for dental treatment. At the same time, some individuals can be self-conscious for certain problems such as bad breath or how their teeth look. Finally, one bad experience with the dentist can be enough for someone to be anxious and discourage the next time around.

Overcoming dental fear

The key to coping with dental phobia and anxiety expressing your fears openly to your dentist. Once your dentist is aware of your particular fear, he will be able to offer the best possible solution for your own comfort. Technological advances in dentistry such as painless sedation options can be offered by a lot of dentists nowadays.

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