Have you ever postponed making a dental appointment because the thought of sitting in the dentist’s chair made you feel uncomfortable, nervous, or afraid? Have you ever canceled an appointment because you were scared of receiving a treatment? While sitting in the waiting room, have you ever experienced rapid heartbeat, broke out into a sweat, or even felt physically sick?

Millions of people experience these and other symptoms because they fear dentist visits, procedures, and the possibility of experiencing pain after visiting the dentist.

Statistics show that these fears are actually common, affecting 1 in 7 Americans. It’s a serious issue, and in recent years, professionals in dentistry have been working hard to help their patients overcome such fears by providing higher quality care and more effective treatments.

Phobia, Fear, and Anxiety

“Dental phobia” and “dentist phobia” are common terms used to identify a moderate to severe fear of the dentist. While these terms have become increasingly accepted and widely used, they are not accurate.

The word “phobia” indicates an irrational fear of something. It could be a situation, activity, object, person, or animal. The fear is irrational because it’s either unlikely that the person will encounter the object of their fear or because the fear is unfounded – the person has never had an encounter with that which they fear.

But most people who struggle with “dentist phobia” are dealing with a fear that is actually completely rational.

Real and Rational

The term “phobia” is inappropriate for people who fear dentist visits because their fear is completely rational. For most patients, this fear is based on previous experiences with a dentist that resulted in some form of suffering. So their fears are quite rational and are not technically classifiable as phobias.

But that doesn’t mean those fears should be dismissed or ignored. Just as with phobia, or an irrational fear, an anxiety or valid fear must be dealt with in a manner that is healthy and beneficial.

The burden of helping patients overcome these fears falls on dentists and other oral health professionals. It is our job to ensure that patients are comfortable and confident in the care they are receiving and to make sure they feel safe and are able to relax through their treatments.

Dentist: Fear Gives Way to Relaxation

As dentists increasingly understand that negative prior experiences have led to dental anxiety, they have become more sympathetic to patients’ concerns. Many dentists have worked to adopt a better bedside manner, showing more compassion toward patients who are tense or nervous.

Modern treatments and techniques have also enabled dentistry to evolve into a medical practice that is less painful. For a long time, dentistry was afflicted with a reputation of inflicting pain upon its patients. But arcane methods have given way to more sensitive and sensible approaches that are less invasive and less likely to result in pain or soreness.

However, the best advances have been made with medicines, which can help patients relax so they can get through a procedure calmly and comfortably. Medications also alleviate pain. And more and more patients are seeking sedation (or sleep) dentistry, in which they can sleep soundly while the dentist completes all necessary work in a single visit.

What to Do If You Fear Dentist Visits

You might be wondering if you suffer from some form of dental anxiety. The Blende Dental Group’s website contains a short quiz, which will help you determine your level of anxiety: click here to take the dental anxiety test.

If you fear dentist visits, you can take your first step toward overcoming your fear simply by knowing that today there are dentists who understand your fear and will work with you more compassionately.

For over 20 years, the Blende Dental Group has worked closely with people who are dealing with dental anxiety and other special needs patients.

To learn more about our work with patients who fear dentist visits or to schedule an appointment, please call 1.800.575.3375 or visit our contact page to send us a message.

When was the last time you went to the dentist? Does your hand shake as you reach for the telephone to call and make an appointment? Does your stomach twinge when the receptionist answers the phone?

If you can’t get past making the call, and are already dreading the visit and wishing you didn’t have to go, you probably suffer from dental phobia, a fear of the dentist. Phobia, however, doesn’t have to prevent you from taking care of your teeth.

Dentist phobia is more widespread than you think.

Many people are so afraid that they avoid not only the more complicated procedures like root canals or tooth extractions but even the most basic dental care. They let years go by between check-ups and suffer through daily pain and recurring infections rather than make that one phone call.

We know how hard this can be. If it is this difficult to make the phone call, how much harder is it to actually come to the office and sit in the chair for the dentist? Phobia may seem like an exaggeration, but it is a serious problem.

What are some of the most common dental fears?

• Fear of the Dentist: Phobia should never be taken lightly. The dentists at the Blende Dental Group are dedicated to serving patients with phobia and anxiety. We care about our patients’ concerns and work closely with them to help them relax and feel comfortable.
• Loss of Control: Nobody likes to feel like they are not in control. A good dentist will pay attention to your needs, give you the space and time you need to feel comfortable, and earn your trust.
• Pain: With modern dental techniques, most treatments can be done painlessly. If you had an extremely painful dental experience in the past, you’ll be relieved to learn that new techniques have been developed for pain-free dentistry.
• The Needle: Handled properly, you should barely feel the needle
• The Drill: It’s a necessary part of the process, but wearing headphones and listening to music can help you relax and will drown out the sound of the dentists and their instruments.
• Atmosphere—the sights, sounds, and smells: Medical environments can be cold, unfamiliar, and intimidating. A cheerful, welcoming setting can go a long way in making you feel at ease. When the atmosphere is warm and the people working with you are caring, you’ll be able to relax.
• Embarrassment: No matter how bad you think your teeth look, we’ve seen worse, and by the time we’re finished, your mouth will be healthy and your teeth will look fantastic.
• Giving Up: It’s easy to tell yourself that your dental problems have gone so far that it’s not even worth the effort to try to fix them, but don’t believe it. One of our specialties is addressing multiple problems in a single visit, so your teeth and gums will be healthy in no time.

Overcoming Dental Phobia

One in seven Americans suffers from fear of the dentist. Phobia often paralyzes these patients, who are petrified by the very thought of visiting the dentist. Good oral hygiene is vital to overall good health, and the fact that so many people are risking their health out of fear is worrisome.

This is the main reason the Blende Dental Group practices and promotes gentle dentistry. We specialize in helping patients who struggle with dentist phobia and work closely with our patients to ensure a safe, painless, and worry-free trip to the dentist.