Afraid of Your Dentist? Here's How to Deal

Are you afraid of going to the dentist? Does the thought of sitting in that chair give you a rush in your chest and a prickly feeling on the back of your neck?

You're not alone. While statistics are hard to come by, it's estimated that about half of all Americans don't get the dental care they need -- and much of that is due to dental phobias. Unlike, say, a fear of spiders, addressing dental phobia is extremely important, since your oral health is at stake.

Why fear the dentist? The reasons for dental phobia are manifold. Some fear the unknown, or the image of dentists -- popular in TV sitcoms and movies -- as sadists with drills. But many others have strong fears of dentists based on childhood trauma.

When we're young, we're particularly susceptible to criticism. Most kids also aren't great at practicing good dental hygiene unless they're directed by their parents. And it's easy for kids to take a careless comment or sharp reprimand seriously -- particularly when it's made by someone wearing a doctor's lab coat. When we're kids, we're taught to trust medical professionals, and when a dentist or hygienist wounds us with a humiliating comment, it can have a lasting impression.

Other causes of dentist fear abound: Painful experiences in one's past; histories of abuse; or learning a parent's fear of dentistry.

Why shouldn't you fear the dentist? Because you have the power. We won't prevaricate: There are plenty of dentists out there with less-than-pleasant bedside manners. But as with any other provider/consumer interaction, you have the choice to leave any dentist who's not providing you with quality care. That also means you can "shop around" for a new dentist, making sure to express the importance of a dentist who doesn't humiliate you.

If it's pain you're scared of, there's hope. As dental procedures become more advanced, they become less painful. And many dentists offer full sedation, so you won't even be awake for the procedure. What's more, dentists can prescribe painkillers to deal with any post-surgical discomfort.

How to overcome it. Merely reading about friendly dentists and advances in oral health technology won't take your fear away -- or will it?

In fact, research may be your best tool in defeating your fear of the dentist. The more you read about things like high-tech advances in dental care, the more you may alleviate your fear. Afraid of the high-pitched squeal of that dental drill? Don't be -- newer drills are quieter (some are even lasers, which increases the awesomeness factor of going to the dentist). And as mentioned above, interviewing dentists before making a choice -- and getting as much information as you can -- can lead to more positive dental experiences.

There are also online communities,such as the Dental Phobia Forum, that offer users the opportunity to interact with each other and take solace in the advice of others in similar situations.

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The dentists at Comprehensive Family Dentistry have been providing high-quality dental care to patients in Newtown, Langhorne, Yardley, Philadelphia and the greater Bucks County area for years. Call today for an appointment.