Why Am I So Anxious About Going to the Dentist?

If you’re anxious about going to the dentist, you’re not alone. Though people’s exact fears vary, up to 61% admit to some anxiety. Learn about the common causes of dental anxiety and what we can do to relieve it.

Dental anxiety is all too real. Some people become fearful about going to the dentist after they’ve had a bad experience, while others dread specific aspects of the office, such as the smell or the sounds. And people who have an underlying mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD, can become fearful even without an inciting incident.

At Supertooth our team understands that the sound of the drill or a needle in your mouth can be unsettling, but our highly skilled dentists have years of experience treating patients who are anxious for a variety of reasons. Here’s what we wants you to know about why you have dental anxiety and how we can help you solve it.

Why am I so anxious about going to the dentist?

You can develop dental anxiety for many different reasons. It might center around a dental procedure in particular, or maybe it’s the dental setting in general. Whatever causes it, it’s more than just an annoyance, as it can impact your long-term oral health by preventing you from scheduling routine visits and sometimes even preventing you from seeking help in an emergency. Without routine dental care, our teaml can’t detect problems while they’re still easy to treat.

No matter what your reason for being anxious, you’re not alone. DentaVox, a market research firm, surveyed 18,000 people around the world. A whopping 61% of those surveyed said they suffered from dental fear, and another 4% reported they’d never been to a dentist. The most common dental anxieties cited, in order of prevalence, are:

Fear of pain
Discomfort from chemical smells
Fear of the sound of the drill
Dreading being stuck in the dentist’s chair
Having to keep their mouth open for long periods

Tackling dental anxiety

The best thing you can do if you have dental anxiety is to schedule a consultation session with our team ahead of any work specifically to discuss what you’re afraid of and why. Once we understand your situation, we work closely with you to allay your fears by describing the procedure (even if it’s just a routine tooth cleaning), so you know exactly what to expect when you have the work done. Having this knowledge helps dispel any fears of the unknown.

As for the fear of pain, today’s dental procedures are much less painful than in the past, both because of advanced techniques and because of better anesthetics. We can talk you through each step as we take in numbing your mouth prior to work so you don’t encounter anything unexpected. The numbing takes effect quickly, and any pain you had simply disappears.

During your initial visit, we do a thorough evaluation of your mouth, and we detail any dental work that’s needed. we also offer sedation dentistry. We pretreat you with a sedatativel that can be taken orally, intravenously, or via a gas mask, which calms you down enough to get through your appointment.

Why are you anxious about going to the dentist? The answer varies from person to person, but you’re in safe and capable hands with Superooth.. To schedule a consultation, call the office or book online with us today.