The Greater Impact of Dental Anxiety and What to Do About It
Sometimes it helps to know you’re not alone. If dental anxiety is causing you to delay treatment you’re among the 15 percent of Americans who do the same.
Dental anxiety is more than procrastination about a dental appointment. It’s a legitimate and potentially paralyzing fear of a procedure or even interacting with your dentist.
What you’re facing
Not all anxiety or fear is the result of genetics. It could be more the result of a conditioned response due to a bad experience or the knowledge of one.
Your dental fear can also be caused by a painful or negative experience during a dental appointment, the feeling of helplessness during a procedure, embarrassment about the condition of your teeth and gums, or fear associated with neglecting your oral health.
The other side of dental anxiety
There’s a downside beyond the anxiety you feel. You put your dental health at risk when you delay or avoid recommended treatment.
Tooth decay, dental cavities, bad breath, oral infection, oral disease, and the need for additional and potentially costly dental treatment can result from avoiding treatment due to anxiety.
The functional affect can include an impact on your tooth function such as chewing and eating, your smile appearance, your speech, and tooth loss.
Solutions that help
Your Roswell dentist provides a few solutions to assist with your dental anxiety. Sedation dentistry with oral sedation and/or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) helps you relax and experience a more comfortable procedure.
Laser dentistry eliminates the need for a dental drill for certain treatments. The use of lasers is a safe and virtually pain free technique for treatment that might otherwise require a surgical procedure including a lengthy recovery period.
Other solutions can include the use of your personal media device (iPod, etc.) during your procedure to help you relax.
Dental anxiety is real. It’s important to communicate any fear or concerns you have about your dental appointment or procedure.
Contact our Roswell dental office about any apprehension you feel about your next dental appointment. Discuss our solutions for helping you experience anxiety free dentistry.