If you live in the Fairfax, Reston, or Washington D.C. areas and you want to learn more about what is being done for dental phobias you can visit the website of Dr. Michael Chung at Softouch Dental Care, where they take pride in patient care.
Do you absolutely hate to go to the dentist? Do the sounds of the drill and small confining spaces in the dentist’s office make you uncomfortable? You are not alone. Many Americans are afraid to go to the dentist and avoid care that they might seriously need. An estimated 10% to 15% of Americans avoid the dentist because of anxiety and fear. That’s nearly 30-40 million people.
People who don’t visit the dentist often have periodontal disease or gum infections. Others deal with the pain of a sensitive tooth or unsightly looking teeth because they fear the dentist. They also might encounter emotional costs down the road. An ugly smile can hurt your confidence and you become so embarrassed about how you look that your personal and professional life can suffer.
Causes of Dental Phobia
There are many things that can cause someone to be afraid of the dentist. Some of the most common include:
- Pain is the most common fear in adults whether it’s from a needle or a dental tool for cleaning.
- Embarrassment is also a factor because the mouth is an intimate part of the body and most people feel it is private to them.
- Feeling of being helpless sitting in the chair. Most people like to be free and feel claustrophobic when someone invades their personal space.
- A negative past experience.
What is being done to help?
Dentists are starting to offer a variety of solutions to make your visit as peaceful and calm as possible. Many have fish tanks or running water of some sort to help calm the patient before they go in. Others offer warm blankets and pillows and extra padding in their chairs. Headphones are very popular these days so you can listen to your music. Some dentists even have virtual reality glasses that show movies on them.
Sedation dentistry is another popular choice. There are basically two forms of sedation dentistry. Oral sedation and nitrous oxide.
- Oral sedation, along with local anesthetic would be given upon arrival to the dentist. It gradually takes affect and you feel very relaxed. You will be able to respond but your worries will be gone. You will need help driving home but the dentist will be able to do large amounts of work at once with this method.
- Nitrous oxide, which is commonly known as laughing gas, is given when the patient is in the chair. It takes affect quickly and wears off quickly, but makes you feel worry free, and gives you a light feeling.
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