Do you jump for joy at the idea of visiting your dentist in Calgary? No? Not many of us do. But not being a super fan of dentist visits is nothing compared to suffering from a full-blown dental phobia. A dental phobia can have devastating psychological and social consequences.
Dental Phobia 101 Do you jump for joy at the idea of visiting your dentist in Calgary? No? Not many of us do. But not being a super fan of dentist visits is nothing compared to suffering from a full-blown dental phobia. A dental phobia can have devastating psychological and social consequences. Understanding More About Dental Phobia Let’s take a look at five things you should know about dental phobia: 1. It’s common! An estimated 9 – 15% of Americans and Canadians avoid the dentist because of fear and anxiety. That’s a whopping 30 – 50 million people! 2. What is it? Fear of dentists in Calgary falls into three broad categories: anxiety, fear and phobia. Anxiety is basically a fear of the unknown. Fear is a reaction to a danger that is known and may have been experienced in the past. A phobia is an extremely heightened fear. A person with dental phobia will be terrified by anything having to do with dentists: toothpaste commercials on TV will give them panic attacks; talking about dental visits will make them feel nauseous and they would rather put up with broken, missing and infected teeth than visit a dentist. 3. What causes it? Dental phobia sometimes results from negative past experiences in the dentist chair. Or they may have their roots in psychological conditions involving feelings of loss of control and helplessness, similar to the phobia of flying. Profound embarrassment in the past or discomfort with the hygienist’s or dentist’s closeness while in the chair can also bring up phobic reactions. 4. Symptoms. Do you have trouble sleeping the night before a dentist visit, or does the thought of it make you physically ill or feel like crying? Do you panic, have trouble breathing and does your heart race when you see someone in a white lab-coat? These are just some of the possible symptoms of dental phobia. 5. How do you deal with it? Try relaxation techniques like conscious breathing and progressive muscle relaxation; have someone you trust accompany you to your dentist appointment; find things to distract you in the dentist chair. You can also discuss with your dentist in Calgary the use of local anesthetics, nitrous oxide or oral and IV sedation. Calgary Dentist Dr. Sandhu is certified in Sedation Dentistry from the University of Alberta. Forest Lawn Dental Centre Aims to Help Your Fear of the Dentist at Your Pace Would you like to discuss your dental concerns with a caring professional? Contact us at Forest Lawn Dental Centre for your next dental appointment and our team will be sure to ease your dental phobia. At Forest Lawn Dental Centre, we’ve been providing gentle oral care, with or without sedation, for over 17 years! Call us today at 403-248-7778 to book your next appointment.