Dental fear is a very common issue. Several patients delay or even avoid dental visits because of the fear or anxiety they feel before visiting the dentist. This can be due to several factors, such as a prior negative experience or the general sense of visiting the dentist and the pain that may accompany it.
If dental anxiety or fear is not resolved, this can lead to several consequences to the oral and overall health. Fortunately, an improved standard of care has led to the development of several techniques to help many patients with their dentist phobia. This leads to enhanced oral health and a better smile for many patients.
Carry on reading to learn more about dental fear and the practices we do at Sierra Dental to help with this.
Causes of Dental Fear
There are many reasons why patients avoid or delay dental visits due to dental fear. Usually, this is because of a previous bad dental visit. Some patients have developed dental fear from when they were young. Perhaps a traumatic visit involving tooth extraction and injections, and the pain from this experience has persisted into adulthood.
However, a bad dental experience is not the only reason one may fear the dentist. Other possible causes include:
Unfamiliarity
The fear of the unknown may be why someone has dental anxiety. We are mostly only aware of what may happen, which clouds our judgment. Unfortunately, most people associate dental visits with pain, which tends to cause more dental anxiety.
Previous Traumatic Experience
Someone with a previous negative experience with the dentist will likely never visit again. It may be due to the pain during the procedure or their overall poor experience. For patients with this concern, transparency is a must. All treatments and outcomes must be adequately explained so they feel assured that they are in good hands.
Fear of Pain
Pain is a common denominator for many people regarding dental treatments. And this is something that nobody wants to experience. So, instead of getting the procedure done, they choose to avoid it altogether.
Fear of Injections and Side Effects
Some patients may be in dire need of a dental visit due to an aching tooth that needs extraction. But they still won’t go because they have a phobia of injections or fear the possible side effects of anesthetics. At Sierra Dental, we do a proper health and medical history check to prevent adverse side effects from our anesthesia.
Embarrassment
Most people fear being criticized by the dentist of their oral health. If it has been a while since your last visit, you may assume so. As a result, you fail to receive the care you need and worsen the condition of your teeth. We remind our patients that we do dental treatments free of judgment. Our goal is to improve your oral health, and we will strive to do so while making you feel comfortable and cared for.
Techniques for Coping with Dental Fear
To ensure that we cater to all our patients and their individual needs, including those with dental anxiety, we built our clinic to be a safe space for everyone.
As an innovative dental practice in Calgary, Alberta, here are some of the techniques we practice at Sierra Dental to help our patients overcome their fear of the dentist:
Understanding you
The first way we can help you cope with your dental fear is to help you open up and discuss your worries with us. The more we know and understand your concerns, the better we can tailor our services to your standards. This creates a safe and relaxing space for you as we help you meet your dental needs.
Technology and dental innovations
Pain is one of the reasons why someone may have dental anxiety. To help ease this, we have invested in cutting-edge dental technology to improve your overall experience. Sierra Dental also keeps up-to-date with more precise and accurate injection techniques and dental systems for optimal patient comfort.
Medications
If necessary, we also recommend you seek our dentist’s help for medications that can help calm you down before your dental visit. These anxiety medications tone down the “fear” activity in your brain so you can safely undergo dental treatments.
Sedation Dentistry
Aside from oral sedation through medication, another form of sedation is through inhalation or IV. Laughing gas or nitrous oxide is a popular sedative of choice for children who fear the dentist. Once inhaled, this slows down the responses of the brain for a feeling of relaxation or calmness during dental visits. This effectively manages pain and anxiety, and the effect quickly wears off after the procedure with minimal to no side effects.
If you experience dental fear and want to explore your sedation or medication options, just be sure to have someone with you during your dental appointment. These potent drugs may cause grogginess even after dental treatment, so it is better to have company to prevent accidents.
Safe and Quality Dentistry at Sierra Dental
At Sierra Dental, we understand that dental fear is a concern for many people. But this should not stop you from getting the dental care you deserve. To help you overcome your fear of the dentist, we have a team of friendly and accommodating staff and dental professionals who will listen to your concerns and keep you as comfortable as possible with every visit.
Book your appointment today to learn more!