Dont Fear The Dentist Summary

There are many causes of dental phobia and reasons why individuals just do not want to visit the dentist bi-yearly for an exam or even for further procedures. While a lot of causes are unknown, there are some that are more obvious. Some people have a generalized fear of pain. This is a very common reason for an individual to skip the dentist office altogether. This reason of phobia is usually caused by an unpleased or painful previous dental experience or from someone else’s story about their negative experiences. An article from Web MD called Easing Dental Anxiety in Adults states, “Thanks to the many advances in dentistry made over the years, most of today’s dental procedures are considerably less painful or even pain-free” (2016).. A second cause behind some people’s dental phobia is fear of injections or fear of injection failure. The majority people are very afraid of needles. This fear increases when it involves needles inserted into their oral cavity. (Colgate, 2016). Some people even fear that the anesthesia has failed and it did not relieve them of their pain before the dental treatment begins. Along with the fear of injections comes the fear of anesthetic side effects. Some individuals dread the side effects that anesthesia is likely to cause, such as dizziness, nausea, and feeling faint. Others do not like the loss of feeling they experience in their oral cavity. A third cause of dental phobia is the feeling of helplessness and loss of control. People

Evidence increasingly shows that poor oral health is associated with functional disability that can lead to deficits and decline” (Overview of oral health, 2017). According to an article in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, dental fear can have a significant impact on a person’s awareness of their oral health, as well as one’s pro-active steps towards prevention and treatment. Therefore, it is paramount in helping a patient alleviate their fear by listening to the patient, acknowledging their concerns, and taking things slowly (Yildirim,

Loss of teeth is a major event in life that remembers the person that life is fragile, so the patient will feel with some depression. Emotional preparation of the patient is very important as the preparation of the tissues of the basal seal. Severe gagging may be also an emotional reaction to the lost teeth. In addition, dental anxiety may create a psychological barrier between need and demand. Normal patients respond to fear and anxiety on three levels. The first is the “Intellectual Level” where the patient is willing to accept and face difficulties and the third level is the lowest

(Clearwater, Florida) According to Colgate.com approximately 9 to 15 percent of Americans fail to visit a dentist as they suffer from a dental phobia, and this equals 30 to 40 million Americans. Some report they fear pain during their dental treatment, with others stating they don't like the feeling of helplessness they experience when in the dental chair. The closeness of the dentist as he or she does the work also accounts for some individuals avoiding the dentist. Regardless of why one experiences this fear, FeatherSound Smiles, a Clearwater Cosmetic Dentist, can be of help.

Fear of the dentist is more common today than most people would imagine. You’re probably very familiar with individuals fearing the dentist, especially if you work or have worked in the dental field. So, what is dental fear? Is it an idea that our parents put in our heads because it was passed down to them from their parents? Is it an emotion that is formed based on images shaped in the mind about going to the dentist? Dental anxiety is abnormal fear or dread of visiting the dentist for preventative care or therapy and unwarranted anxiety over dental procedure. (U.S National Library of Medicine, N.D.) Patients who experience dental anxiety will have a sense of nervousness and unfounded worries or fears. “Some studies have concluded that 75% of people have at least some fear about dental visits.” (Penn Dental, May. 15, 2017.) Dental phobia is a more serious condition. It's an intense fear or dread. “People with dental phobia aren't merely anxious, they are terrified or panic stricken.” (Colgate, September 18, 2013.) Many people with dental phobia typically avoid the dentist unless they have pain and only find it necessary to seek treatment. Negative experiences in childhood are the most common causes of dental fear. So, what can we do to rationalize with our patients? Educate!

Our staff is very understanding when it comes to dealing with dental anxiety. In fact, many of us have experienced it ourselves at some point. We understand how intimidating receiving dental care can be, so we make it our mission to put you at ease with friendly and compassionate service. We are here to make you feel welcome and at ease from the moment you walk through our door to when you leave with a happy smile on your face.

Furthermore, it talks about methods to treat dental anxiety like therapy, communication about the procedure, and hypnosis. Then it talks about why hypnosis is an effective technique in dental patients because it seems to reduce anxiety and how it is easy to apply. The researchers conducted a controlled experiment by having a control group (no hypnosis during tooth removal) and an independent group (hypnosis then tooth removal). 102 patients from a dental practice (51 patients in each group) were assigned to either no hypnosis (controlled group) or with hypnosis (independent group). All of the tooth extraction patients received anesthesia. They then began the tooth extraction and people in the independent group were hypnotized with a prerecorded procedure from a CD player. After the tooth extraction, people in the independent group were dehypnotized. Lastly, both of the groups were asked about their anxiety levels after and during the extraction. The independent group was asked about the effectiveness of

Perhaps the best way to allay your dental fears is knowing that you are in control of the situation. Explain to your dentist that you have a fear of dental procedures. Ask that he help you overcome this fear by thoroughly explaining everything he intends to do and getting your approval before doing it. If you like, your dentist may even show you some of the tools he will be using and explain them to you. This eases anxiety in some people. The knowledge that you can say no to your dentist at any time and try again on another day or with different sedation gives you the power.

In the dental profession there are many obstacles to overcome. Dental anxiety and dental phobia are two conditions that have been plaguing this profession for many years. Although many people believe that dental anxiety and dental phobia are the same, they are different conditions that need to be taken seriously.”9 to 15% of Americans avoid seeing the dentist because of anxiety and fear (Colgate).”

Ramseier CA & Suvan JE Health behavior change in the dental practice. Ames: Wiley- Blackwell; 2010.

Dental phobia, or the fear of visiting the dentist, is more common than you might think. It is estimated that around 12% of the British population experience extreme fear when visiting the dentist; while 25% of us will experience some sort of anxiety at the prospect of a trip to the local dental surgery.

While one in three people experience moderate fear and anxiety at the prospect of visiting a dentist, for one in seven people their fear of dentistry rises to the level of severe phobia. For these people, living with oral pain and discomfort is preferable to submitting to dental care. There is an alternative to living in constant pain: sedation dentistry, sometimes called oral sedation dentistry, relaxation dentistry, or even sleep dentistry. What exactly is sedation dentistry? Quite simply, it is a process of delivering to the patient oral medication or a combination of medications that puts a patient totally at ease and relaxed. Fear triggers the release of certain chemicals in the brain that heightens the 'fight or flight ' response,

Dental anxiety is something we deal with every day. We work hard to help each and every one of our patients feel at home here in our office. It is important to us that you have a pleasant, relaxing experience. We will be happy to help you feel comfortable. Our patient, stress-free care will put your anxiety at ease.

General anxiety and dental anxiety played a role in the dental treatment. This means that they are less likely to use regular dental services. Even though they found that anxiety was linked to poor oral health; there many factor like being unmarried, having low-income or no health insurance, no prenatal care and races play a role in oral health. In 2008 BRFSS, participants with lifetime and current depression were found more likely with one tooth decay than anyone without the disorder (Silveira, Whitcomb, Pekow, Carbone, & Chasan-Taber, 2015).

If so, you're not alone. Studies show that 50% of people experience some anxiety when they visit the dentist. In the U.S. alone there are more than 40 million "dental phobes" — people with such severe anxiety that they avoid any kind of dental care altogether.