Happiness is your dentist telling you it won’t hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill. – Johnny Carson
Maybe that’s how most people felt back in the days of the original late night king, but not anymore. Our patients here at Weninger Dentistry know that we do everything we can to take the pain out of their visit to the dentist. Even so, there are still those who fear the experience.
Why Do Some People Fear the Dentist?
In a recent survey, people were asked why they feared seeing the dentist. The four most common reasons given were:
- Pain – Children and teenagers are the least likely to fear the pain of a dentist visit and adults the most. The reason is because adults can tend to have memories of what it was like before dentistry made so many advances to become a “pain-free” experience.
- Lack of Control – Who hasn’t had more than a touch of anxiety when their plane began to taxi or when stuck in traffic in the tunnel? We understand that and work with our patients to give them as much control as possible during their dental experience.
- Negative Past Experiences – This goes back to the pain issue. Perhaps you had a bad experiences in the past with a dentist or what was available at that time to control pain. The good news is that things have changed – a lot!
- Embarrassment – Let’s face it, most of us don’t usually want a stranger six inches away from our face. Perhaps you’ve waited a bit too long for that dental work you desperately need. Or maybe, you don’t want anyone to see you anxious. Whatever the reason, your dentist just wants to give you back the smile you want.
Reasons to Not Fear the Dentist
- Advances in Dentistry – Yes, some of the sounds and smells of yesterday’s dentist are still there but the experience is more than bearable today. Have you stubbed your toe lately? There is no way to eliminate all pain but we make your dental experience gentler and more pain free than ever before. And, some treatments really are completely painless.
- Dental Sedation Options – There are several options for reducing anxiety. Oral sedations like nitrous oxide or an oral medication are the most common but IV sedation is also available for patients who need quicker relief.
Patient and Dentist Working Together
At Weninger Dentistry, we have prepared a free EBook called “Fearful of the Dentist” that shows what we can do for you and how you can best prepare yourself for a pleasant dental experience.
We are acutely aware of the amount of fear many people have regarding the dentist and their visit. That is why we developed this guide to let you know that you are not alone and there are many things we can do to help you overcome those fears.