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Have you ever felt a knot in your stomach at the simple mention of a dental appointment? Do you feel nervous when thinking about dentists? Studies reveal that more than half of the adults in the United States experience some form of dental anxiety. This unease often leads to postponed or avoided visits, potentially putting your oral health in jeopardy. What’s concerning is that neglecting dental care because of anxiety can result in more extensive and costly treatments. The real question that comes up is how to overcome dental anxiety and feel comfortable enough to visit a dentist.
In this blog, we discuss what dental anxiety and phobia are, along with the different techniques and medications that can help get rid of this unease. Let’s begin our journey towards a more relaxed dental experience and help you overcome your anxiety.
Dental anxiety is the feeling of mild to extreme fear that people have when they think about going to the dentist.
Several things can trigger your dental anxiety. It could be a previous uncomfortable dental experience, a fear of needles or specific dental instruments, or even the feeling of not having control in the dentist’s chair.
It is important to get to know how to overcome dental anxiety, as your oral health can worsen due to such fears. There are various treatments, which include medication and other techniques, that help in reducing dental anxiety. Let’s first have a look at the different phobias that commonly exist.
Dentophobia is a really strong fear of going to the dentist. It’s when the thought of a dental visit makes someone feel very scared or anxious.
Dentophobia is the extreme fear of going to a dentist; in such a condition, you will have panic attacks and will never want to go to a dental clinic. Dental anxiety is a nervousness that happens to almost everyone and ranges from mild to severe fear of dental procedures.
Different treatments have been suggested by researchers that you can undergo to overcome your fear, but it’s better to find which phobia you have before moving on.
Some individuals worry a lot about feeling pain during a dental procedure. You might be afraid that the treatment will hurt, even if the dentist assures you it won’t. This fear can go so deep that you won’t be able to understand how to overcome dental anxiety without external help.
Some people are deadly afraid of shots, even from the numbing pitch shots that make the whole procedure painless. If you have this phobia, you’ll do anything to avoid going to the dentist, no matter how much pain you are in.
Some examples of food you can eat are non-chunky soups, fruit smoothies, oatmeal with mashed fruits, etc. After the first week, your implant will have healed a little, so you’ll be able to move on to some chewable and more fulfilling foods like eggs.
In some cases, people get really scared by the sight and sound of the dentist’s tool. The noises of these tools might be loud and strange, which can make any person really uneasy. It’s best to communicate your fears to your dentist to get to know how to overcome dental anxiety of such type.
Some people feel that they can’t do anything to stop or change what’s happening during their dental procedure. It’s a fear that you won’t be able to communicate or ask the dentist to stop if you need some time. It’s like feeling a bit helpless.
When going for a dental procedure, you might be afraid that certain tools or procedures will make you feel like you can’t breathe properly. The fear of choking on any dental item can be so deep that most people don’t usually know how to overcome dental anxiety in such a case.
If you have had a really tough time at the dentist before, you will remember feeling super scared or in pain during that visit. This memory sticks with you, thus making you feel super scared, and you won’t know how to overcome dental anxiety from such experiences.
Healthcare professionals have introduced a lot of medications that can help you reduce your dental anxiety.
These are oral medicines that only adults can take to relax before their dentist visits. If prescribed to you, it should be taken one hour before your appointment and is a proven treatment to reduce anxiety and relax the patient.
It’s a mild sedative administered through a mask placed over the nose. It induces a feeling of relaxation, helping to ease anxiety during dental procedures. Its effect wears off very quickly after it is removed, and is said to be the safest medication to reduce dental anxiety.
It’s commonly used by dentists if you have anxiety and fear of the procedure about to be performed. They use local anesthetics to numb the area being worked on, minimizing discomfort and anxiety as you won’t feel any pain.
It is administered through a vein to help reduce severe dental anxiety. It brings about a deep state of relaxation or sleep, depending on the dosage. This type of medication is particularly useful if you are experiencing severe dental anxiety and have to undergo a complex procedure.
In cases of extreme dental anxiety or for complex procedures, some individuals may opt for general anesthesia. This will render you completely unconscious during the procedure, ensuring you feel no discomfort or anxiety. But this is only done during extreme cases of not knowing how to overcome dental anxiety.
Now that you know everything about dental anxiety, it is time to face these fears and go to a dental clinic for guidance.
Looking for a dentist in NJ who will understand your anxiety issues? At Hesed Dental, we understand that dental anxiety can be a real challenge. We have dedicated ourselves to creating an environment where you can feel completely at ease.
Our general dentistry NJ services specialize in providing compassionate care customized to your specific needs. With different relaxation amenities available for your use, we are proud to claim that every one of our patients has never faced any type of anxiety issue, as everything is communicated properly before starting procedures.
So, let Hesed Dentistry be your partner on the journey to a fear-free smile. Book your appointment today, and let us handle the rest for you!
Hesed Dental 543 Gorge Road Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
201 941 8877