According to psychology experts, dental phobia is not so much about bad experiences but the idea of not being in control. The dentist is hovering over you while you’re lying in the dental chair, and they’ve put you in a position that you can hardly communicate. That leaves you feeling vulnerable, and most people don’t like that. Then there is the issue of childhood trauma. Maybe you had a corrective procedure done while you were younger, and it was pretty bad. That traumatic experience caused fear of dentists, and now you can’t stand the idea of walking into a dental office. Your only hope is a dentist with phobia experience such as Itani Dental – Samer A. Itani, DDS.
What Causes Dental Phobia?
First, you might want to know that phobia and fear are two different things. Fear is a strong dislike for something or someone, and it usually results in avoidance. However, it is easy to correct when caught early.
Phobia is a more defined form of fear. It is usually a result of a terrible experience, and it is considered an anxiety disorder. The tell-tale signs of phobia are extreme avoidance and distress.
Here’s an example of how phobia forms.
James was 7 years old when a general dentist failed to anaesthetize a tooth properly then poked a nerve while doing a tooth removal. The result was a sharp shooting pain that this little boy has never forgotten, and it created a subconscious fear in his mind. Every other visit to the dentist after that was a real struggle. And this progressed even into his 20s. Now he feels distressed even when driving past a dentist’s office.
What Are Some of the Ways Dentists Can Stop Dental Phobia and Anxiety?
1. Avoid Needles
Fear of the needle is probably the biggest contribution to dental phobia. Most people don’t know that dental needles come in smaller diameters than other injection needles, and the aesthetic works almost immediately. So the industry was forced to look for better solutions.
Numbing gel: Also known as the tropical gell. Dentists use this numbing agent to reduce the sting of a piercing needle. This gel soaks into the skin or gums to prevent the nerves from sending a pain signal to your brain. This product is available for over-the-counter purchase, and it has helped many people overcome the fear of dental needles.
Happy gas: A dentist may choose to give a dental patient a small amount of nitrous oxide. This gas sedates the entire body and is considered overkill for a minor dental procedure. But it can be beneficial to people with dental phobia.
2. Dental Hypnosis
The perception of harm is the hardest thing to overcome, and accessing your higher self is one of the best ways to fight it. When you’re hypnotized, you can easily access your subconscious mind, and that’s when you’ll visualize what you want to achieve. This can help patients address their dental phobias.
3. Laser Dentistry
The idea of having someone use a drill in your mouth can be scary. What if something goes wrong and the tool ends up in the wrong place?
Lasers have been used in surgeries and dental procedures for quite some time now, and they are here to stay. Dentists use them to cut through teeth and tissue with a high level of precision. And that reduces the chances of damage to healthy teeth and other parts of the mouth. Also, the patient does not get anxious from the weird noises as they would when a drill is stuck in their face for 30 minutes or more.
4. Pediatric Dentists
Dental phobias usually form after a traumatic experience as a child, and that’s why you need to take your children to a pediatric dentist every time. A general dentist can still get the job done, but they may not be empathetic or “fun” as a child specialist would. These professionals go back to dental school after gaining a license to operate as general dentists. And that equips them with everything they need to know about doing dental procedures in children.
Everything considered, it is worth noting that you’re responsible for finding the right dentist for you or your child. Sift through the reviews, and ask for recommendations from friends and family. Ask them what experience they have with dental phobia and how they can help you overcome it. But don’t take their word for it.