What is Dental Anxiety?
What are the Symptoms and Types of Dental Anxiety?
What is Dental anxiety?
Dental anxiety is a very common fear or stress that exists in most patients at some level. We have noticed that it is a spectrum of fear, anxiety, or stress which is associated with the dental treatment and its process. It depends on the level and type, sometimes it can restrict the patients from visiting the dentist. In some cases, due to this anxiety people keep on delaying their visit to the dentist which results in bigger dental problem/s and makes it an emergency to visit the dental clinic. Things like a needle, drill, dental tools, procedures or a past negative dental experience are the most common reasons that can trigger Dental Anxiety.
The problem arises when the patient experiences a severe kind of anxiety and irrational fear to even book an appointment with the dentist is classified as Dental Phobia. Dental phobia is less common, where the dentist might need to consult with your doctor on how to overcome the phobia. In some cases, patient need to have to recommended type of sedation, in order for them to have dental work.
May it be anxiety, fear, or phobia, avoiding a dentist or dental hygienist can result in serious dental disease which in the worst condition calls for an emergency visit or more complex treatment. It is better to visit the dental professional regularly so that the dentist thoroughly checks, cleans, and spot any dental issue in the early stage, so they can be fixed in timely manner.
During the regular checkups, the dentist performs a dental exam where he checks the teeth and gums and come up with a treatment plan treat the dental concerns. Most of the dental problems are associated with lifestyle and poor oral hygiene (at home or lack of professional hygiene). If the patient does not pay attention to the smaller issue and keep on avoiding the dental visit, it is more likely calls for a more complex procedure in the future.
What are the symptoms?
People who suffer from dental anxiety may experience
- Signs of panic.
- Crying or hiding.
- Visible distress.
- Extreme sweating.
- Fast heartbeat.
- Simply withdraws.
- Diverting the mind using humor or aggression.
- Low blood pressure or fainting.
- Stomachaches
These are the common symptoms an anxious patient either shows at the dental office or they would simply avoid making appointments because of the symptoms
Types of Dental Anxieties
Needle and Drilling phobia
The most common fear or anxiety some people face is from needles and drilling. Some of them can’t even stand the noise. They experience this fear when making an appointment for cleaning, scaling, or any other dental procedure. This fear can turn into phobia if it is not addressed.
Fear of Pain/ Discomfort
Most people fear that they can experience pain or discomfort during the dental procedure. In some cases, the fear of pain and discomfort makes them anxious even for a regular dental checkup or periodontal exam. However, if this fear turns into a phobia, the patient can generalize the idea of pain to be much worse.
Uncertain anxiety
It would be better to call it the fear of the unknown. Some people may have never had a tooth drilling or any other dental procedure but they fear and get scared simply because they don’t know what will be the process. It also triggers when they listen to someone else’s treatment story or a negative dental experience and they can fear that this is going to happen to them as well.
Uncertain anxiety
A negative or bad experience at the dental clinic in childhood can still haunt them in their adult life. They can still recall the same pain and ca get terrified or triggered, so they avoid visiting a dental clinic.
Fear of loss of control
Some people perceive that sitting on the dental chair for a long time will make them helpless. This fear of feeling losing control can be daunting. They can feel terrified to sit on the dental chair because they assume they have to keep going no matter what and there is no going back.
Fear of Anesthesia (side effects or the feeling of numbing)
Not only does needle and drills can make patients afraid of visiting a dentist but they can also have anxiety about the feeling of numbness caused by the local anesthesia. Some patients have the fear and assumption of potential side effects from anesthetics can keep them away from getting any dental treatment.
Religious/ cultural beliefs
Sometimes patients can avoid dental treatment due to the close proximity of male/female practitioner. Some patient can feel uncomfortable laying down and having other people around them.
Low self-esteem due to poor oral health
Some patients feel embarrassed to seek professional dental help, since they assume that there is nothing that can be done any more, or they can be judged for their lack of oral care and neglect.
Financial anxiety around the cost of the treatment
As some of the dental treatments are a bit expensive as compared to any other treatments. People who do not have dental insurance coverage either because they are struggling entrepreneurs or have no job hesitate to visit the dental office. Procedures like dental implants and braces can cost thousands of dollars which makes them anxious and restrict visiting the dentist.
Fear of invasion of privacy/ Low self-esteem due to poor oral health
Some people are ashamed of their dental health and hygiene that they don’t feel like opening their mouth in front of a dentist or hygienist. This anxiety keeps them away from making an appointment to see a dentist. Some people have the anxiety of what if someone finds out? Or their dental information might get shared somehow.
Fear of having treatment by a non-skilled practitioner
Some patients do not feel confident visiting the dental office simply because they cannot trust the dentist. They have doubts about their skills and feel anxious that they would not do or recommend the right treatment. This could be due to any past negative dental experience of themselves or someone they know might have shared with them.
Bottomline
Some people suffer from dental anxiety that can prevent them to visit the dental clinic for professional dental care. We want to make sure that our patients know that their level or type of anxiety is VALID!
At Clean Smiles Dental, we like to empower our patients who are struggling with any dental anxiety or concern regarding their dental treatment and visit with us. We are here to offer solutions to provide best dental treatment by managing their dental anxiety.
Each of these types of anxiety has a possible solution at Clean Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic. If we are unable to provide the dental solution; for example, a certain kind of sedation that might be best suited for your need, then we will certainly guide you in right direction. Our main goal is for each patient to be able to get best dental care that they need and deserve.
Here at the Clean smiles dental hygiene clinic, we have compassionate, skilled and experienced dentist and hygienists who can provide the best suited dental treatment by managing your dental anxiety. If you are looking for a clinic in Edmonton, we are here to provide you a free consultation session where you can discuss your fear and anxieties and together, we can with a best suited solution to get you the best dental care you need and deserve. Book your appointment now at (780) 800-6655
