Would you believe that some people don’t look forward to their dental visits due to fear?? What better time than now to face that fear?

Dr. Lunan and her staff try to make sure that no dental procedure is painful, but, just being examined can make some people feel anxious.

Most people can live having slight anxiety about a dental visit, but for some just the thought is terrifying. Some people are so scared that they will do just about anything to avoid a dental appointment. People with a dental phobia often put off routine dental care for years, putting up with infections, pain, broken or unsightly teeth.

Dental anxiety is extremely common – About 9-15% of Americans avoid seeing the dentist because of it. That comes to about 30-40 million people. About 36% of people that avoid going to the dentist say that fear is the reason.

People with dental anxiety have a higher risk of gum disease and early tooth loss. Avoiding the dentist may have emotional costs as well. Discolored or broken teeth can make people self-conscious and insecure. These people may smile less or keep their mouths slightly closed when talking. Sometimes personal and professional lives start to suffer as well.

People with dental fears may offen suffer from generalized poor health or even a lower life expectancy. This is due to the fact that poor oral health has been found to be related to some life-threatening diseases, such as heart disease and lung infections.

There are varying degrees of dental fear. Some people will never see a dentist, others will force themselves to go but not get a wink of sleep the night before.

As a dentist, we are familiar with the reasons people fear us. Here they are:

-A bad experience as a child. This can develop into a fear of the dentist for life. This is probably the most common reason for people to fear going to the dentist.

-Fear of pain. The thought of possibly feeling pain during treatment is usually worse than any actual pain. People get anxious and work themselves up because they tend to just sit and wait for the pain to start. Some people have extremely sensitive teeth or gum disease which can be the source of pain when having their teeth scaled and polished. Please note: Dr. Lunan will not work on a patient of they are feeling pain. It’s that simple. She will use more anesthetic, nitrous oxide or even numbing gels for a dental cleaning if needed.

-Fear of needles. Lots of people are not afraid of the dentist, they just fear getting an injection. Dr. Lunan always uses numbing gel on your gums before an injection, so you don’t feel the pinch of the needle so much.

-Being out of control. While at our dental office, we would like you to put your complete trust in us. We realize this can be difficult to do. You are in a position where you can’t see what’s happening. Dr. Lunan explains everything she is doing during treatment so you always know what’s happening and what’s coming up next.

-Dental Drill. The sound of a dental drill can sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to some people. The high-pitched sound of a drill combined with the suction can be quite overwhelming for some people. Dr. Lunan suggests bringing headphones with you so you can listen to your favorite or relaxing music instead.

-Embarrassment. Many people avoid the dentist because they are embarrassed by the look of their teeth. You can be sure Dr. Lunan has seen much worse teeth than yours! Avoiding the dentist due to embarrassment will only allow more time for dental problems to occur. A simple cavity may turn into a root canal if you wait too long.

-Smell of the dental office. All the cleaning products used to keep things clean can have a distinct smell which can lead to anxiety for some.

-Gagging or choking. Dental visits often involve lots of water which may trickle down your throat making you feel like you are going to choke or gag. Dr. Lunan periodically stops and lets her patients swallow or sit up if needed to help with this.

A few tips for beating dental anxiety:

-Don’t wait to visit the dentist until the pain increases.

-Discuss dental anxiety openly with Dr. Lunan.

-Consider Nitrous Oxide or anti-anxiety medications.

-Having healthy teeth and gums is the best possible way to avoid the Dr.’s drill while boosting your self-confidence as well as reducing anxiety.

It is very important to remember that dental fear and phobia can be treated. Without treatment a phobia will likely worsen over time. If any of this article describes you, please tell Dr. Lunan about your feelings, concerns and fears. We don’t want to hurt you! Together we will overcome your these feelings by changing the way you are treated.

We are always accepting new patients. It’s time to Face Your Fears. Give us a call and we will get you on your way! (203)598-7920

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