As many as 1 in 5 adults don’t like to go to the dentist. These feelings range from a mild dental anxiety to a full-blown dental phobia. While most people are able to receive necessary Dental Care Beaver Dam WI without any real difficulty, someone with dental phobia can feel ill or have a panic attack. They may lay awake for hours the night before a scheduled visit or feel lightheaded or have difficulty breathing in the dentist’s chair. It’s a genuine problem.
The 5 Most Common Reasons for Dental Anxiety
The most common reasons for dental anxiety include the following:
- Pain:
- Often, this fear can be traced back to a bad experience in childhood. Today’s dental procedures are much less painful or completely pain-free.
- The Needle:
- Probably no one really likes needles, but needles in the mouth are terrifying for some. Others worry that anesthesia won’t work.
- Side Effects from Anesthesia:
- Some worry about feeling dizzy, lightheaded or nauseous. Others just don’t like the numbness or “fat lip” feeling after a local anesthetic.
- Loss of Control
- : Reclining in the dentist’s chair can produce an intense anxiety and feeling of powerlessness for a few people.
- Embarrassed:
- There’s never any reason to feel embarrassed about your teeth at the dentist. He or she is there to help and has seen it all.
Tips on Relieving Dental Anxiety
- Arrange to meet the dentist before the treatment and discuss your fears.
- The dentist can work around your anxieties once they are aware of the problem. He or she will explain everything that’s going to happen and let you become familiar with the dental instruments, if that’s a particular worry.
- Bring a friend or family member instead of going alone.
- Noise-canceling headphones can mask sounds such as the drill or bring earbuds and listen to music.
- If fully reclining in the chair is a problem, the dentist may be able to work with the chair half-reclined. Partial reclining can also be helpful for certain physical issues, such as some back problems.
- Sedation dentistry can be the best solution for many dental anxieties. There are different levels of sedation available, ranging from mild to fully unconscious. Discuss which would be best for you with your dentist.
If you’re anxious about receiving necessary Dental Care Beaver Dam WI, Dentistry of Wisconsin can help you. They offer a free consultation, sedation dentistry and high quality care in a relaxing environment.
