Many people are aware that they need to visit the dentist but often delay treatment out of fears related to the dental visit. It’s easy to judge a person who has a fear that we find strange or doesn’t make sense to us, but you can be sure that everyone can relate to having a fear of something, be it a fear of spiders or a fear of heights.
If you have a fear of the dentist it may be comforting to know that you are not alone. It may also help to know that there are a range of fears that people have when it comes to a visit to the dentist. There are many dental treatments and procedures that are implemented for patients depending on their specific needs. Possible solutions and treatments can include (but are not limited to):
- Endodontic surgery
- Dental Implant surgery
- Porcelain veneers
- Orthodontic treatment
- Periodontal disease treatment
- Bridgework on teeth
- Cosmetic dentistry solutions
- Tooth replacement
These are only a handful of the general procedures and treatments that may be recommended or required by a dentist. But some people cannot even get to this stage where their dental problems can be resolved because of their phobias.
Here is a list of common problems and what can be done to help a patient to overcome those fears. Many dental fears actually stem from previous dental visits with dentist who may not have appreciated that a good chairside manner can help patients to relax and feel comfortable.
- I’m scared the treatment will be painful.
Many people respond to pain and discomfort differently and for many just being able to talk about a procedure makes them more able to cope with things. A good dentist should always be responsive to patient discomfort and as a patient you should never fear embarrassed by letting the dentist know that you are in excessive discomfort.
- I’m worried about the dental instruments and the drill.
It often helps if a patient knows what each instrument is for and how it will feel. People can be surprised by the feel of a dental tool being used after anaesthetic. The feeling of pressure or scraping can be as uncomfortable as dental pain itself. Unfortunately when it comes to the drill it does sometime need to be used and the sound can be terrifying. Relaxation techniques may help but I would recommend early dental preventive treatment to avoid the drill as much as possible.
- I have a phobia of dental injections and/or needles more generally.
When it comes to needles and anaesthetics nobody likes them. As a dentist we should always try to consider that for some patients the needle can be harder to deal with than the rest of the dental procedure. Many dentists find that if they try to administer the anaesthetic swiftly and confidently then the patient reacts better also a numbing gel can be used to offset the discomfort from the needle.
- I’m scared of what a dentist will say about my teeth and my oral hygiene, and the humiliation I will feel.
Rest assured that nobody is here to judge anyone and that as a dentist our only motivation is to repair any damage and help prevent any further damage.
- I’m scared that the dentist will treat me as a set of teeth, not as a person, and will be cold and uncaring.
Our advice on this problem would be to make sure you go and meet with any dentist that you are considering and see if they take the time to get to know you and if that they seem the right dentist for you. If you find that a dentist just views you as a set of teeth then you should look to change your dentist.
Overall, you should always try to find a dentist that will understand your fears and take the time to explain anything that you are unsure about. A good Dentist will always work at your pace and accommodate any problems you may have. As always we recommend visiting the dentist sooner rather than later as this can help prevent any major procedure’s.
For more information on Windsor Centre for Advanced Dentistry‘s treatments and for general advice please Contact Us.
