Being afraid of the dentist is one of the most well-known phobias, it’s up there with being too scared to fly, terrified of the dark and public speaking.
People who are afraid of the dentist, avoid attending regular dental appointments and instead wait until something is seriously wrong before they even contemplate visiting the dentist.
Avoiding the dentist will leave your dental health at risk and may leave oral problems undiscovered until they present major risks.
It’s known that there are many causes of dental fear, most notably if someone has suffered a past traumatic dental experience, inheritance of personality traits or simply were told too much vicarious information.
According to Associate Professor Jason Armfield of the University of Adelaide, dental phobia is one of the most present anxiety issues within Australia. He has stated that dental fear impacts about one in seven Australian adults.
So why do so many Australians suffer from dental anxiety? Find out by reading our top 5 reasons why you may be afraid of the dentist below.
Five reasons that make people afraid of the dentist
Number One – Loss Of Control
Some people view visiting the dentist as an experience where you lose your control. They feel it’s an unpredictable state, where they do not know what will happen.
However, at Dental pearls, we specifically invest in training all our clinical staff to ensure that you, the patient is always in fact in control. Whether it’s our front office coordinators, or clinical staff, everything is explained and if anything needs further clarification, we are more than happy to address that. In addition, if you are not comfortable with anything, we are here to help and support you, so that we can make you feel at ease.
Number Two – Poor Dental Health
Many adults do not want to visit the dentist due to the state of their dental health, this may be due to the feeling of embarrassment.
This is associated with missing teeth, decayed and rotted teeth or other aesthetic issues.
At Dental Pearls we feel honoured and excited to be a part your dental journey. Nothing gives us more pleasure than to help facilitate giving YOU good oral health and a confident radiant smile.
We certainly are not here to judge you, but here to help your smile.
Number Three – Pain
Maybe it’s the pain associated with visiting the dentist, the pain or sounds of drills, the sting of the needle or pain associated with other treatments.
We train our staff at Dental pearls to make sure your dental visit is as pain-free as possible.
A special cream is applied to your gums prior to receiving the anesthetic injection, so this process is minimally uncomfortable.In addition, we offer sedation in the form of Nitrous oxide, which can greatly alleviate the anxiety surrounding having an injection and dental treatment.
Number Four – Dental History
We have all heard of those horror stories from the past and we understand that it may have scarred you and prevented you from coming to the dentist.
Please know that dentistry has come a long way and we like to think those stories are history and not a present-day image of dentistry.
At Dental pearls we pride ourselves in believing we can help you overcome your fears and make you feel safe and comfortable in our clinic.
Number Five – Breathing Troubles
Breathing troubles can steam from several reasons, such as anxiety, claustrophobia feelings, blocked nose, but quite often, it’s due to a very strong gag reflex.This is an issue which may be addressed in several ways. Sedation can certainly help with anxiety and to some extent, the gag reflex.
However, other methods can also be employed to minimise the gag reflex. Due to our careful history taking, if there is a nasal issue, we address that with physical aids such as pure peppermint oil to help to clear the nasal passageways, or nasal cones/strips.
This in turn means that as we carry out the dental work, you, the patient can breathe with ease through the nose, which makes the procedure more pleasant.
Of course, frequent breaks and even having the patient in a half-seated position, also greatly helps reduce breathing troubles.
Contact Dental Pearls over dental anxiety
If you suffer from dental anxiety which is keeping you away from the dentist, you may be suffering from oral issues that you cannot see or feel.
It’s important to visit the dentist every six months for a checkup and clean to make sure you have your best oral health.
At Dental Pearls we can help those suffering from dental anxieties and make sure your dental experience is relaxing, calming and a happy one. Just give us a call on (07) 3210 2144 or contact us here and tell us if you suffer from dental anxieties, to find out how we can help you.
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