Why am I afraid of the dentist?
Have you feared the dentist for as long as you can remember? Dental anxiety is, unfortunately, a common concern. Some patients fear the dentist after a bad experience in childhood or even a negative dental experience in adulthood. Some patients may not be able to pinpoint how their dental fear even began. Dental fear can be a tremendous hurdle. Don’t lose faith. This page by Dr. Charles Sutera, a renowned sedation dentist in Massachusetts, will hopefully help you understand your fear and the options available to overcome dental anxiety.
What is Dental Anxiety? How Do I Overcome Dental Phobia?
Everyone has something they fear. Absolutely everyone. Think of other major challenges in your life. If the challenge was important to you… it probably caused anxiety. That resistance you feel is your body’s way of indicating improvement is needed. How did you successfully overcome your anxiety in other situations? Most likely, you decided your life would be better by addressing it. Then you became dedicated to taking action. The first step of anything is obviously the hardest, but as you gain momentum and confidence with your decision…it becomes more comfortable.
Reducing dental anxiety and overcoming a dental phobia is very similar. Try to research dentists in your area who are compassionate toward dental anxiety and have options available, like sedation dentistry in Metro Boston or also known as sleep dentistry, to assist you in reducing your anxiety. The dentist will take time to get to know you, understand your concerns, and thoroughly discuss any questions you have. If you are reading this page, you are already in the first phase of the improvement process! After you select a dentist, you will slowly build trust and rapport over time. With consistently positive experiences, your dental anxiety will begin to fade. It takes time, but it all begins with that first step of establishing rapport with an empathetic dentist.
How is a Dentist Experienced With Dental Anxiety Different?
Just as you would probably expect, there are a variety of dentists with varying skill sets, training, and personalities. If you suffer from dental anxiety you should seek a compassionate dentist with training dedicated to pampering your physical and psychological comfort. Let’s talk about some of the techniques dentists with advanced dental anxiety experience make available to you:
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Listening: Talking about your fear of the dentist is one of the best ways to overcome it. Before any dental treatment, a dentist specialized in anxiety will get to know you. You may not know exactly why you feel anxious, and that’s totally okay! Just verbalizing your fear as best you can help to build an understanding. The dentist will gain an understanding of your history, your triggers, you’re your goals. By establishing this mutual rapport, it will help the dentist to give you clear expectations. Many people are anxious because they simply don’t know what to expect.
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Calming Environment: Rushing anything in life creates anxiety. Your dentist will be sure to always give you plenty of time so you never feel rushed. You will have time to thoroughly discuss at the consultation and have plenty of time to take breaks during treatment. The extra time also gives time for calming techniques. These calming techniques are breathing visualization exercises, and the opportunity to ask questions
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Technology: Advanced technology is highly effective in reducing the fear of the dentist. A dental practice with cutting edge technology will be able to more easily and smoothly progress through your treatment. The sounds will be softer, sights will be easier, and scents will be more pleasant. In our dental practice, Aesthetic Smile Reconstruction, there are several creature comforts that serve as distractions to help with dental anxiety. Patients each have large 55” TVs. Patients are able to see the TVs sitting up or when reclined. We offer patients weighted blankets and sunglasses. Patients are also welcome to bring their own electronic devices to listen to music if they would like to. Anything that helps a patient feels at home is generally okay for the patient to suggest.
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Sedation Dentistry: Sedation dentistry is also called sleep dentistry. For very phobic patients, dental sedation can revolutionize dental treatment. There are varying levels of sedation from mild sedation where you are in full control but with reduced anxiety to being able to completely sleep through the treatment. Dr. Charles Sutera is a board-certified national leader in all forms of sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry is also extremely safe, routine, and predictable in the office setting.
How Does Sedation Dentistry Work?
Sedation dentistry, or sleep dentistry, begins with a thorough consultation to review your treatment needs and discuss your goals. Before any treatment is started, you will have a thorough understanding of what to expect, the time frame, and the cost. You will fully be in control over all your treatment decisions.
Sedation dentistry is customized based on your individual needs. Whether you fear the sounds of the drill, fear needles, have a gag reflex, or just general dental anxiety there is a dental sedation option that can help.
Patients may have mild sedation by breathing laughing gas during a procedure to reduce their anxiety, patients may take oral medications prior to/during a procedure, or a patient may sleep through a procedure with IV sedation that titrates the patient to perfect comfort and relaxation similar to the sedation used during a routine colonoscopy. Regardless of which form of sedation dentistry is used, you will always be fully numb with a local anesthetic so you won’t feel pain. The goal of all dental sedation options is to reach a state where the dental treatment is not concerning to the patient and satisfies their comfort.
Significantly more treatment can be done with sedation dentistry than with local anesthetic alone. Sedation dentistry helps to limit the number of appointments needed and efficiently complete dental treatment. Safety is always maintained with sleep dentistry. You will always be breathing in your own control, you will be monitored closely at all times, and the medications used can always be immediately reversed if needed.
In terms of preparation for sedation dentistry, for all sedation dentistry other than laughing gas, there are two arrangements needed:
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You will need to plan for a friend or family member to drive you to and from the appointment
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You will need to fast and refrain from eating or drinking for 6 hours prior to your appointment.
Dental sedation has helped even the most phobic patients overcome dental anxiety and get the dental care they need and the beautiful smile they deserve.
Thank You for the Kind Words From Our Wonderful Patients!