The reason why there are people who have difficult overcoming dental fear because of their experience with the dentist. There are cases wherein the dentist forgets to anesthetize a part of the gum where the tooth is going to be pulled out, which hit a nerve directly. Of course, when a nerve is hit that way, it would create trauma for the patient, vowing never to return to the dentist. They are also the ones spreading the fear of dentists, making most people avoid dental clinic at all costs.

The good thing is that most dentists these days are trained on how to handle patients that have difficulty overcoming dental fear through different treatments and methods that are made readily available that aids in reducing pain and at the same time alleviate their fear when they are facing the dentist right at the dentist chair.

What is the cause of it?

In the US alone, between 5 to 8 percent avoid the dentist because of fear. This is only an estimate though. Around 20 percent of them will only visit the dentist when they feel there is a necessity only, even if they fear the dentist entirely. Based on certain studies, around two-thirds of the patient tell about their fear because of a bad experience they had when they were young.

Overcoming Dental Fear

Some dentists go out of their way in creating an environment for their patients that will make them less or entirely not threatening at all. You will often find certain dental clinics that do not look like dental clinics at all. They changed the whole setting to let their patients feel comfortable and don’t remind them of what traumatized them about the clinic in the past. Many of them took down the posters that are filled with horrors regarding various gum diseases. There are a lot of objects that make the patient think about the horrible experiences they had in the past, in which the dentists have learned to take them down and replace them with something more pleasant. Dental Sedation is also recommended to help you relax before beginning dental treatment.

If these are not enough to overcome dental fear, here are some tips that will help you, the patient, deal with it.

Tips for overcoming dental fear

1. It is best that you understand your feelings. This means that you have to recognize them rather than running away. Write down your fears so that it will be easier for you to talk about it later.
2. One of the biggest parts of your dental fears is the kind of dentist you are working with. As much as possible, choose the right dentist that you are comfortable to work with. You can look this up at the local listings and even ask your friends or family for any recommendations.
3. You need to learn to communicate your anxiety and fears. This is one thing that will help you build up with the dentist. When you are vocal about your anxiety, fears, and apprehensions, it will help you and the dentist gauge with the situation and create an action plan that is best suited to your needs.

Dr. Anoosh Afifi is very professional when it comes to handling his patients with difficulty in overcoming dental fear. You can set an appointment with us or visit our Capitol Hill Seattle Dental office. 

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