Dental Phobias

Fear of going to the dentist is actually very common in our society. Many, many people fear going to the dentist, and these days, it is actually a common thing for dentists to advertise that they specialize in dealing with anxious patients.

As much as 50% of the American population does not regularly see the dentist because of anxiety, and it’s estimated that 9 to 15% of Americans avoid dental treatment altogether because their fear is so severe. This is actual dental phobia.

Dental phobia can be absolutely debilitating. People who suffer from dental phobia will avoid going to the dentist even in the face of dental or mouth pain, tooth decay, or even tooth loss.

For them, the fear of going to dentist far outweighs any actual symptoms they’re having, and they will avoid going to the dentist even in the face of such consequences.

For some, even doing something such as passing a sign or seeing a commercial advertising dental services can set off panic attacks or severe symptoms of anxiety.

For such people, help is available. Many dentists advertise dealing with anxious patients, and phobic patients can fall into this category, although those with actual phobias exhibit much more severe symptoms than those who are simply “anxious.”

There are new, fast acting sedative medications that can make the patient relaxed enough to undergo the treatment without any fear.

Other dentists advertise using relaxation techniques and gradual desensitization techniques, such as immersion, to help patients gradually overcome their fears while remaining fully conscious and without sedation.

Whatever patients’ phobic situations are, there’s simply no reason for them to avoid going to the dentist these days.

If they feel that desensitization or immersion techniques would not help them, for instance, then they can feel free to choose sedative medications.

Since dental anxiety is actually a finite situation wherein behavioral therapy, in and of itself, does not need to be learned (since dental visits are not a regular, functional part of life that one needs to face and conquer), medications alone may be the answer.

If sedative medications are not an option for whatever reason, or the patient does not feel comfortable taking these medications, then many dentists specialize in treating phobic patients, and utilize various relaxation techniques, such as visualization and breathing techniques.

Above all, it is most important to have an understanding dentist who can help patients feel comfortable and who can help them handle their fears in the dentist’s chair.

Want to boot your fears and anxiety into touch?

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