Frequently Asked Questions regarding Dental Phobia

Overcoming Dental Phobia

Dental Phobia is a very broad subject and can be complex and leave sufferers feeling as though they have no one to turn to.

Here are some common questions and queries from sufferers of dental phobia:

Question: Where can I find a dentist that is sympathetic to my needs as a sufferer of dental phobia?

Answer: Many dentists have been professionally trained to deal with patients who are nervous or anxious about visiting them. They will have seen it many times before and will be more than happy to help you.

Question: I’m so nervous about visiting the dentist that I really feel that I can not go through with it. What should I do?

Answer: The worst thing that you could do would be to just stop visiting your dentist, as this can lead to severe oral health problems and result in lengthy and potentially painful and expensive surgery. Try visiting your dentist beforehand to talk to them about your procedure and to get a feel for the dental surgery.

Question: I’m convinced that when I go to the dentist I will have to undergo a procedure that will be painful. Is there anything that can be done to make it less painful?

Answer: First of all, not all dental procedures are painful. Many people consider injections to the gums to be the most painful part of visiting the dentist, thankfully there are alternatives such as sedation which can take away the pain, as well as modern advances in dentistry such as the wand which is used for administering painless injections to the gums.

Question: I’m really embarrassed by my oral health and this is putting me off visiting my dentist. What other reasons are there for people suffering from dental phobia?

Answer:There are many different reasons why people suffer from dental phobia. Some people had a bad experience with the dentist as a child, and are still put off visiting their dentist when they are grown up. Others are put off by what they think of as horror stories from friends or colleagues, and are unwilling to put themselves through this. For other people the lack of control that they experience whilst visiting the dentist puts them off. They feel that they are helpless and can do nothing to stop the dentist doing what they wish whilst carrying out surgery. To try to combat this you could ask your dentist to talk to you during the procedure, to let you know exactly what they are doing, and why.

Question: I’m anxious about an upcoming trip to the dentist. What can I do to help prepare myself for treatment?

Answer: There are many things that you can do to help prepare yourself about an upcoming visit to the dentist. You should try visiting your dentist before your appointment so that you can ask your dentist detailed questions about the procedure which you are going to undergo. Your dentist should tell you step by step what will happen during the procedure, and will be more than happy to help you. Also, during these visits you can get a feel for the dental surgery and its environment to help prepare yourself for your treatment.

Question: What can be done to help relax me during my visit to the dentist?

Answer: You should let your dentist know straight away that you are nervous about your procedure, and your dentist will be more than happy to help. Many dental surgeries play soothing, relaxing music to help put their patients at ease whilst they are receiving treatment, and many dentists will try to use distraction techniques such as talking to their patients to try and take their mind off their surgery.

Question: I’m really paranoid that I will be causing a massive inconvenience to my dentist if I am obviously nervous during my procedure. Can you give me any assurances that I am not alone in suffering from dental phobia and that I will not cause my dentist any inconvenience by being so nervous?

Answer: Your dentist will be more than used to treating patients who suffer from dental phobia and will be trained to help you. Your dentist will be more than happy to help, but it is important to let them know that you are apprehensive. Please do not let this stop you from visiting the dentist! Your dentist will have treated many, many patients who are nervous about visiting them, and you will be no where near the worst that they have encountered. No matter how much inconvenience you think you may be causing to your dentist, it is important to remember that your oral health comes first, and that your dentist is trained to help patients feel comfortable during dental procedures. You’re not causing your dentist any inconvenience, they’re just doing their job.

10 myths about visting your dentist

One of the most common reasons that people fear the dentist is the spreading of dental myths, or horror stories, from friends or colleagues. These myths can put people off visiting the dentist even if they badly need treatment. This neglect can lead to more long term and serious oral health problems, and often result in long, painful and expensive surgery.Here are some of the most common myths that you are likely to hear concerning dental fear and visiting the dentist. It is so important to remember that visiting the dentist is something that in necessary to do on a regular basis.

Myth: The dentist does not have time for people who are nervous like me and who need a lot of encouragement and support whist having treatment.

Fact: Your dentist will be specially trained to support and work with patients who are obviously nervous about undergoing treatment, and will have done so on numerous occasions. There is no need to think that you are making you dentist’s job harder than it needs to be as this is in fact part of their job, and they are there to make sure you feel comfortable and happy with your treatment.

Myth: The dentist will be completely shocked and appalled by the state of my mouth.

Fact: Your dentist is a trained medical professional who has seen countless people with extremely poor oral health. You will be absolutely nowhere near the worst that they have seen. Even if your mouth is in a bad condition, your dentist is trained to help you and will go about your treatment in a professional manner. If you feel that your mouth is this bad, then this is a great reason to visit your dentist!

Myth: There is nothing that I can do to help myself overcome my fear.

Fact: There are loads of things that you can do to help yourself visit the dentist and overcome your fear! There are lots of practical methods and techniques that can be used to help you, for more information call our friendly staff for a chat - 01245 354 383.

Myth: Going to the dentist and having an injection into my gum will be excruciatingly painful.

Fact: This is not always the case. Often patients can take painkillers to take away the pain, as well as this, dentists can use distraction techniques to try to take their patients minds away from what is happening. Modern advances in technology mean that there are new ways to make painless injections into the gums, the most common of these is the wand.

Myth: When I go to the dentist I have no way of knowing what is going on, and have no control whatsoever.

Fact: This is a common source of fear for people who are nervous about visiting the dentist. Before you undergo any dental treatment you can make pre visits to your dentist and ask them to explain in detail about the procedure that you are going to undertake. They will be more than happy to help, and they can even explain what they are doing whilst carrying out the surgery itself. This is no trouble to the dentist and they will gladly help you in this way. After all, it is you that is having the treatment, and you have the right to know!

Myth: As long as my teeth seem okay, and I’m not experiencing any problems, I don’t need to visit the dentist.

Fact: Regular check ups at the dentist are extremely important. You may think that your teeth are fine, but a visit to the dentist to make sure is always advisable. If you do find that you need treatment, it is much easier, less painful to treat early. Leaving it could result in having much more lengthy and expensive surgery.

Myth: Some dental conditions such as gum disease are completely natural, and visiting the dentist regularly will not stop it.

Fact: Gum disease is certainly not completely natural and unable to be avoided. Gum disease is caused by a build up of dental plaque and by not brushing properly. This and other oral health problems can be avoided by visiting the dentist regularly.

Myth: Maintaining Good Dental Health is difficult

Fact: Maintaining good oral health is not at all difficult, but you do have to be pro active about it, and not just assume that everything is fine. Simple things such as brushing twice a day, seeing your dentist regularly and having a good balanced diet all help to keep your oral health in top condition. There’s nothing too difficult about that is there?

Myth: Going for regular check ups at the dentist is not important.

Fact: Going to the dentist for regular check ups & cleanings is absolutely crucial in making sure that you have good oral health. Regularly visiting the dentist helps to prevent cavities, root canals, gum disease, oral cancer, and other dental conditions. Get to your dentist before these problems get to you.

Myth: Dental problems go away without any visiting the dentist

Fact: This is simply not the case. If you experience a problem with your oral health, leaving it alone and taking pain killers will not help. You should visit your dentist and get to the bottom of the problem. Leaving it alone will mean that it only gets worse, and you may be forced to undergo much more lengthy, painful and expensive treatment than you would have if you had seen your dentist straight away.