About 20% of Americans avoid seeing a dentist because they have a dental-related phobia. Most of these people are aware of their anxiety, and they experience sleeplessness, panic attacks, and physical unease at the mere thought of visiting a dental office. There are many reasons for these emotions, including these common experiences.

Why Adults Fear Seeing a Dentist

1. Fear of Needles

It’s not uncommon to fear needles, especially when the injection you’re receiving is in your mouth. Some dental procedures, such as getting a filling for a cavity, require local anesthesia to be administered before the procedure can begin.

If your fear of needles prevents you from routine teeth cleanings or dental exams, let your dentist know. They can put a note in your patient file to use nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, to ease your anxiety before they give you an injection. Sedation dentistry is also an option, and it’s reserved for patients with an extreme fear of needles.

2. Previous Bad Experiences

A bad past experience can also cause someone to dread seeing a dentist, even if the experience wasn’t with a dentist. Some people associate a rude front desk clerk, being over-billed, or a cleaning by a careless dental hygienist with their fear of seeing a dentist.

Some adults may have even experienced pain during a dental visit when they were children. By discussing those traumatic experiences with your current dentist, they will find ways to ease your anxiety by understanding its causes. 

3. Ashamed of Oral Health

Not everyone has dental insurance for routine teeth cleanings, and others are forgetful and fail to floss regularly. No matter the reason, some adults fear being reprimanded for their poor oral hygiene.

Try reassuring yourself that dentists only have your best interests at heart, and it’s highly likely that they’ve seen far worse. Any feedback they offer is meant to help you improve your oral health.

If you suffer from dental anxiety, the team at Dental Clinic of Onalaska has been helping ease their patients’ fears for almost 30 years. The dentists will listen to your concerns and discuss ways to make you feel more comfortable, such as applying sedation. If you need routine dental care or cosmetic services such as teeth whitening, call (608) 783-3341 to request an appointment. Visit them online to learn more about their services.