Dental anxiety and phobia
Dental anxiety is not new to us. We have seen a lot of patients suffering from dental anxiety. Dental anxiety is a term that is used to describe intense fear or stress surrounding dental treatments.
Before getting their dental procedures done, some triggers or factors make this phobia arise in patients. It’s time to face your fear. Believe us when we say that it’s going to be pretty easy for you with this article.
Causes of dental anxiety
There are several reasons why you may have dental anxiety. Most times, a previous dental experience that was traumatic might cause it. Sometimes, it doesn’t even have to be a dental experience; general healthcare trauma might contribute to dental anxiety. It can be caused by post-traumatic stress disorder. Knowing the cause of your dental anxiety is a good step in making progress with coping with it.
Fear from an experience
This is common for people who have had a traumatic dental procedure before. A popular scenario is if you had a terrible experience with a harsh or unskilled dentist.
Another one is if your previous dental care experiences were humiliating and extremely painful. Past traumatic dental experiences can make you scared of going to the dentist. This also includes other traumatic health experiences.
Fear of needles
This is one of the most common reasons people are anxious about dental procedures. The reason is that needles hurt.
The thought of having a sharp needle injected into your mouth is enough to give you the jitters. Some people might even believe for some reason that the anesthesia won’t work on them, and they’ll end up feeling the pain. Some just have generalized anxiety over needles and injections.
As long as the dentist administers the correct dose of anesthesia, it should be enough to take effect and prevent the pain of the injections.
Fear of pain
It’s funny how people conclude that dental procedures are extremely painful even when they’ve never gotten one. The scary stories that people have passed around can make you have anxiety about your treatments.
Many people have not even gotten a dental treatment done before. You might also be scared of pain because of the previous negative experience you have personally had.
The good news is that with the right professional care from trusted dentist Dr. Uparika Sharma and good numbing agents, most dental procedures are usually painless.
Fear of loss of control and personal space
Your challenge might not even be the pain or previous trauma. It might be that you have anxiety surrounding the loss of control and space in that situation.
There’s no need to be embarrassed about it. Many people feel this way too. They just don’t want to be near someone poking their mouths with instruments and invading their personal space.
How to handle dental anxiety
Running away from your problems has never been the solution, and it won’t be in this case. There are some excellent tips for handling dental anxiety so that you can see your dentist and get treatment.
Coping mechanisms
Even if it doesn’t cure your dental phobia, listening to music can temporarily help you forget about it. Meditation is a good mechanism that will help you relax your muscles and nerves. Do anything you can to distract yourself from the anxiety of your dental treatment.
Therapy
Sometimes you may be unable to do it alone. If you need professional help, get an expert in behavioral therapy to assist you in the process.
Conclusion
A good percentage of the population has dental anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder presented in different forms. The coping mechanisms and strategies will help you go through the procedures smoothly.
A great place to start is by coming to our Bellevue office or contacting us through 425-998-8109 to answer any questions you may have. We would be delighted to hear from you.
