Are You Anxious About Visiting the Dentist?
Are you one of the countless individuals who dread stepping into a dental office? If so, you’re not alone. Dental anxiety is a common obstacle that prevents many anxious patients from receiving essential oral care. However, at Advanced Dentistry Ameredes & Associates, your Pittsburgh dental practice, we do what we can to ensure that patients feel comfortable in our dental office.
Dental Anxiety - Pittsburgh, PA | Seven Fields & Oakdale, PA
What Is Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety, also known as dental phobia or dental fear, can lead to avoidance of dental treatment. Dental anxiety affects individuals’ lives by causing them to avoid necessary dental care, which can lead to more severe oral health issues. When some hear the words “dental appointment” or “dental treatment,” feelings of unease and apprehension often arise. But why do so many of us experience this fear?
Symptoms of dental anxiety can manifest in various ways, such as increased blood pressure, pulse rate, and self-reporting dental anxiety and fear scales. Dental anxiety can have a detrimental impact on our oral health, leading to a vicious cycle of:
- Dental pain
- Health issues
- Heightened anxiety
- The need for more complex and costly dental treatments
Causes of Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety can be triggered by a variety of factors, including:
- Past negative experiences
- Fear of pain
- Loss of control
- Sensory triggers
Symptoms of Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety manifests in various ways, making dental visits challenging for both patients and dentists. Some common symptoms of dental anxiety include:
- Elevated pulse rate
- Perspiration
- Fainting during a dental visit
- Feelings of panic, dread, or embarrassment
- Avoidance of dental appointments
- Inability to cooperate adequately with dental professionals during treatment
These symptoms can be measured using various tools, such as the dental anxiety scale, to assess the severity of a patient’s anxiety.
Dental Anxiety’s Impact on Oral Health
The consequences of dental anxiety go beyond mere discomfort; it can negatively impact our overall oral health. Avoiding necessary dental care due to dental anxiety can lead to poor oral health, including issues like gum disease and cavities. When individuals avoid necessary dental care due to dental anxiety, they risk developing more severe dental issues over time. Research has shown that dental anxiety can lead to avoidance of dental care, contributing to a vicious cycle of dental pain, health issues, increased anxiety, and the need for more complex and expensive dental treatments.
Breaking this cycle of dental phobia and giving priority to dental care is imperative. Developing effective coping mechanisms and seeking professional help, can help individuals maintain their oral health and overcome their dental fear.
Open Communication With Your Dentist
Sharing Dental Fears
Openly discussing your dental fears with your dental practice helps create trust with your dentist. Discussing your concerns and past experiences can help us understand the source of your dental anxiety and address your dental fears accordingly. Friends and family members can also provide support by lending an ear to your dental phobia and concerns and offering encouragement.
Establishing Trust
A trusting relationship between a patient and dentist is pivotal for effective treatment and overcoming dental phobia. It allows the patient to feel more content and protected and allows the dentist to provide the highest quality of dental care. A dentist can foster trust by being forthright with the patient, attentively hearing their concerns, and clearly explaining the treatment plan.
Building trust with your dentist can lead to a more comfortable dental experience, fewer feelings of dental fear, enhanced communication, and a better understanding of the dental treatment plan.
Customizing Dental Treatment Plans
A tailored dental treatment plan is crucial for dealing with dental anxiety. This may involve teaching relaxation techniques to anxious patients before they sit on the dental chair. In collaboration with your Pittsburgh dentist, we can devise a plan that caters to your individual needs and preferences, helping you deal with your dental phobia. This may involve discussing alternative treatment options or simply agreeing on a signal to pause the dental procedure if you need a break.
Tailored dental treatment plans help create a sense of control and comfort during dental procedures, reducing dental anxiety and fostering a more positive dental experience.
Self-Help Techniques for Managing Dental Phobia
Mindfulness Exercises
Mindfulness exercises focus on being present in the moment and fostering a non-judgmental awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and dental fear, enhance concentration, and foster overall well-being.
Examples of mindfulness exercises include body scan meditation, mindful eating, and breathing exercises. By incorporating mindfulness exercises into your daily routine, you can alleviate dental anxiety and promote a more relaxed state of mind during your dental appointment.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation is a method that tenses and relaxes different muscle groups in the body. This method can reduce stress and dental anxiety and promote a greater sense of relaxation. To practice progressive muscle relaxation, simply tense and relax the muscles in your feet, then progress up the body, tensing and relaxing each muscle group.
Regular practice of progressive muscle relaxation can help you feel more relaxed during a dental appointment and alleviate dental anxiety.
Positive Affirmations
Positive affirmations are concise declarations or mantras that are repeated to oneself to foster positive thinking and self-confidence. They can help replace negative thoughts with positive ones, reducing dental anxiety during dental appointments. Examples of positive affirmations include “I am strong and capable,” “I am worthy of love and respect,” and “I am open to new opportunities”.
Professional Help for Severe Dental Anxiety
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a psychotherapeutic intervention that has been demonstrated to be highly effective in managing dental anxiety. CBT helps individuals recognize and dispute their unfavorable thoughts and beliefs concerning dental visits and develop more adaptive coping strategies.
- Anti-anxiety Medications: Anti-anxiety medications can help reduce anxiety and provide immediate relief for those experiencing severe dental anxiety. These medications include alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan). However, while anti-anxiety medications may offer temporary relief, they shouldn’t be considered a long-term solution. Combining medication with therapy, such as CBT, can lead to more sustainable results in managing dental anxiety.
Creating a Comfortable Dental Environment
Calming Atmosphere
A tranquil atmosphere in the dental office can be achieved through:
- Gentle lighting
- Comfortable seating
- Relaxing music
- Decor that’s pleasing to the eye
- The use of aromatherapy
By ensuring that dental offices are comfortable and welcoming spaces, patients can feel more at ease and less anxious during a dental appointment.
Distraction Techniques
Distraction strategies can be used to minimize stress and dental anxiety during dental procedures. Music distraction and visual diversion are two techniques that can be used to help take a patient’s mind off of a procedure.
Technology options such as background music, television sets, computer games, and 2-D and 3-D video glasses for watching movies can also be utilized.
Support From Friends or Family Members
Having a friend or family member present during dental appointments can help alleviate dental anxiety. Their presence can generate feelings of comfort and ease, divert one from negative thoughts, and provide emotional support. By bringing support to dental appointments, patients can feel more relaxed and less anxious during their dental treatment.
Alternative Dental Treatments for Patients With Dental Anxiety
Laser Dentistry
Laser dentistry uses lasers to treat various dental conditions. This method is considered less painful and more efficient for certain treatments compared to traditional techniques. By using laser dentistry, patients with dental anxiety can experience reduced discomfort and a more comfortable dental experience.
Air Abrasion
Air abrasion uses alumina powder streams to remove decay and debris from teeth. This method is less invasive than traditional drilling techniques and can decrease the need for anesthesia and shorten the duration of the dental appointment. Patients with dental anxiety can benefit from air abrasion as it provides a more comfortable and less invasive dental treatment option.
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry is a pharmacological intervention that can effectively manage severe dental anxiety during dental procedures. Options such as conscious sedation, deep sedation, and general anesthesia can help patients feel more relaxed during dental treatment.
For individuals experiencing severe dental anxiety, sedation dentistry can provide a more comfortable and less stressful dental experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dentists commonly prescribe benzodiazepines such as Valium, Xanax, Halcion, or Ativan for dental anxiety before a dental visit. These drugs decrease anxiety by toning down activity within “fear” receptors in the brain.
Midazolam is another derivative of the class of drugs used in dental sedation that can help calm nerves and cause memory loss with minimal effect on heart and lung functioning.
To manage your dental anxiety during dental appointments, practice self-help techniques such as mindfulness exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and positive affirmations, and maintain open communication with your dentist.
Yes, dental anxiety can sometimes be a symptom or manifestation of other underlying mental disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or specific phobias.
In these cases, the dental anxiety may be part of a broader pattern of anxiety or fear related to various situations or triggers. Addressing the root cause through appropriate treatment can help alleviate dental anxiety as well.
Unfortunately, yes, dental phobia can affect children as well as adults. Children may develop dental phobia due to a variety of reasons, including painful or traumatic dental experiences, fear of needles or the dental equipment, or even picking up on their parents’ own dental anxiety. If left unaddressed, childhood dental phobia can persist into adulthood and lead to long-term avoidance of dental care.
Overcome Your Dental Fears Today, Call Now!
Overcoming dental anxiety is possible with the right approach and support. Remember, taking charge of your dental health is not only essential for your oral health, but also for your overall quality of life.
To schedule an appointment with one of our dentists and learn how we can help you overcome dental anxiety, call our Seven Fields office at 724-776-4560 or our Oakdale dental office at 412-788-6300. We’re also here to help patients from Cranberry, Bridgeville, Canonsburg, PA, and surrounding areas overcome dental phobia, so they can get the dental treatment they need.
