Help! I’m Really Anxious About My Upcoming Dental Appointment

Yes, dentophobia is a real thing. People with this phobia fear the dentist and/or the dental office. It can be set off by thinking about making an appointment or being present at an actual appointment. Past negative experiences, family history, or feeling a loss of control can all lead to dentophobia.

At Hometown Family Dental Centers in Fayetteville, Raeford, and Vass, North Carolina, our expert team of dentists offers sedation dentistry to address dentophobia. Instead of foregoing needed care, here’s how we can help you get through your appointment with as little anxiety as possible.

The problems of dental anxiety and dentophobia

One-third of Americans avoid going to the dentist because of dental anxiety or fear. There is a distinction between dentophobia and severe fear of dental treatment.

Dentophobia is intense fear out of proportion to the situation. People with this fear avoid seeing the dentist even when in pain, which often leads to poor oral health and may affect personal and professional relationships.

Severe fear of dental treatment is incredibly distressing, but the feelings aren’t as extreme as with dentophobia. People with dental anxiety worry constantly about pain or other distress at the dentist, but they’ll likely still see their dentist when necessary.

A recent survey by DentaVox involved 18,000 participants worldwide. The results showed that 61% of the respondents suffer from dental fear, and almost 4% have never visited a dentist.

The reasons cited for dental fear include:

• Pain (39%)
• Smell of chemicals (24%)
• Sound of the drill (21%)
• Being stuck in the chair (7%)
• Having to keep their mouth open for a long time (5%)

About 5% of respondents listed all of the above, and another 5% feared receiving the bill.

Patients who delay or forego treatment not only have worse oral health, but they’re also more likely to end up in a dental office for emergency services. Uncomfortable and expensive emergency dental procedures only serve to confirm their worst fears, perpetuating the cycle of anxiety and poor health.

Some research suggests fear may be a conditioned response from childhood. According to the researchers, “when [a] traumatic dental episode occurs in childhood it has a lasting effect” on dental anxiety into adulthood.

Conversely, regular, routine dental appointments from an early age increase children's positive experiences and make them less fearful about going to the dentist when a problem eventually occurs.

What can I do about dental anxiety?

You don’t have to suffer through dental anxiety; there are several things you can do to help yourself.

Talk to the dentist

Don’t be afraid to tell us about your problem. Sure, you’re probably embarrassed about the situation, but it’s not anything we haven’t encountered before. The more informed we are, the more we can help you remain calm.

Some dental anxiety-management techniques we recommend include:

• Wear headphones and listen to music while you’re in the chair to distract you
• Hold onto a comfort item, like a stress ball or small stuffed animal, at your appointment
• Practice meditative breathing and muscle-relaxation techniques

You can also request a more vertical position of the chair if you find the horizontal position intimidating or uncomfortable.

Bring a friend you trust with you

When you go to dental appointments, bring a friend you know and trust but who doesn’t share your anxiety. They might be able to sit next to you and hold your hand while we work, or if the procedure doesn’t allow that, they can verbally encourage you during treatment.

Ask about sedation dentistry

If you have extreme dental anxiety or dental phobia, sedation may be appropriate. We offer three types of sedation:

1. Oral (conscious) sedation: a pill taken before the appointment to calm you down
2. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas): You remain conscious, but everything feels a bit “distant,” so you stay calm
3. IV sedation: administered through a line in your arm; you won’t be aware of what happens during the procedure

You can also choose to tough it out. The more you experience dental treatment, the less anxious and the more accustomed to it you’ll become.

If you can’t overcome your anxiety to make and keep a dental appointment, Hometown Family Dental Centers can help. Call our office to learn more and to schedule.