Fear of Dentist

Description: Most people can live with having some anxiety about going to the dentist. For those with dental phobia, however, the thought of a dental visit is terrifying. They may be so frightened, in fact, that they’ll do just about anything to avoid a dental appointment.

A phobia is an intense, unreasonable fear. People can fear a specific activity, object or situation. People with dental phobia often put off routine care for years or even decades. To avoid it, they’ll put up with gum infections (periodontal disease), pain, or even broken and unsightly teeth.

People develop fear of dentist and phobias for many different reasons. When researchers interview patients, however, a few common themes emerge.

• Pain
• Feelings of helplessness and loss of control
• Embarrassment
• Negative past experiences

Treatment:
Communicating With Your Dentist

Talking with your dentist is the key to beating dental distress. Modern dentistry can be almost painless. Therefore, it’s worth taking the time to discuss your fears — and the potential treatment options — with your dentist.

Distraction

One way to reduce stress during a dental appointment is to distract yourself with something more pleasant.

Pain Control

In recent years, dentists have developed a wide variety of medicines and techniques to handle pain. They can reduce or eliminate pain during most procedures.

These include- Topical anesthetics , Laser drills, Electronic anesthesia, Cranial electrotherapy stimulation, Nitrous oxide (laughing gas), Electronic anesthesia delivery systems, Intravenous sedation, General anesthesia

• Relaxation Techniques – In theater patient entertainment system like TV of music during the procedure.