Dental Anxiety and Dental Phobia

Some people go to extraordinary lengths in order to avoid going to the dentist. What should be a twice-a-year commitment turns into a twice-in-a-lifetime activity. Most dental procedures aren’t in any way painful, but people can still become stressed just from the thought of being examined. By letting your dental phobia get the best of you, you’ll become an easy victim for broken teeth, pain and periodontal disease.

The issue of dental phobia and anxiety is very common with an estimated 30 to 40 million Americans identifying with this fear. There is a difference between dental anxiety and dental phobia. Individuals suffering from dental anxiety will have fear and uneasiness when going to the dentist, but those with dental phobia are in a more terrified and panicked state. By avoiding the dentist, many individuals with dental phobia begin to become embarrassed of their unhealthy teeth and have a serious loss of self-esteem.

Dental phobia and anxiety usually gets worse over time if not correctly treated. If you feel like you fit the description of someone who suffers from dental phobia or anxiety, talk to me about your feelings and concerns so that my office and I can help you overcome your fears, by creating a treatment that is fit to your needs. Additionally, dealing with anxiety and understanding and accepting phobias can be helped through counselling and therapy. We work closely with local psychologist, Dr. Jen Alonso, to help our patients move past these very real obstacles.