Dental Phobia: Its Cause, How to Overcome, and Treatment

April 4, 2022

Going to the dentist makes a lot of people nervous. But dental anxiety isn't simply about fear of pain. It's a lot more serious. This anxiety, often known as dental phobia, can cause nausea, breathing difficulty, panic attacks, and even fainting. However, with sedation dentistry in 80920 it’ll be a breeze.

patient looking at tool used in sedation dentistry 80920

Dental Phobia in a Gist

What Causes Phobia?

A variety of factors can cause anxiety and dental phobia. These are some of them:

  • Embarrassment - Patients often feel ashamed about potential dental odors or the appearance of their teeth if they haven't taken care of them.
  • Feeling helpless - Given the circumstances, it's understandable to feel out of control. If you're the kind of person who likes to organize and plan things so you can have control of whatever you're doing, it's always important to know that not everything is within your control.
  • Fear of negative consequences - Some patients are concerned about experiencing dizziness, fainting, and nausea. Others despise the "fat lip" numbness or feeling that follows after a local anesthetic is administered.
  • Trypanophobia - It is commonly known as fear of needles or injections. Some are afraid of getting pierced or injected, while others are concerned that the anesthetic will not be sufficient to eliminate the discomfort before the treatment begins.
  • Algophobia - This is the most common reason why people put off going to the dentist. It's frequently due to a bad dental experience as a child or from hearing other patients' "pain and horror" stories.

Overcoming Phobia and Dental Anxiety

Here are some suggestions to help you overcome your apprehensions before visiting the dentist:

  • Determine the source of your anxiety. You know what to fix if you know what you're worried about.
  • Choose a dentist who is compassionate. If the dentist doesn't seem to care about your anxieties, they'll just get worse. Hence, it would be ideal if you were picky when it comes to your dentist.
  • Inquire about how patients react to pain. You might find it useful to learn how someone else felt after going through the same surgery. Some may even say that they don't feel a thing.
  • Don't hesitate to inquire about sedation dentistry. For patients who have dental phobia and anxiety, sedation dentistry works miracles.

Phobia Treatment at the Dentist

The dentist uses sedation dentistry to provide medication either before or during the treatment. Only general anesthesia renders the patient entirely unconscious. Others will only help you unwind or relax.The following are some of the most commonly prescribed sedatives:

  • Nitrous Oxide - During the surgery, this gas considerably calms the patient. It wears off quickly, so you might be able to drive yourself home or go to work.
  • Oral Sedatives - These will assist you in unwinding or relaxing during your dental operation. You'll take them around an hour before the scheduled appointment. You'll be awake but tired, and you'll be less worried as a result.
  • Intravenous Sedatives - IV sedatives can help you go through the phases of awareness. It will put you to sleep until the treatment is completed. Aside from general anesthesia, other IV medications will make you feel tired and less aware of the surroundings, but it will be more of a "twilight slumber."
patient not afraid of sedation dentistry 80920

Inquire More About Sedation Dentistry in 80920

The professionals at Esthetic Family Dentistry are ready to help you with whatever treatment you require. Come in at any time with any questions you may have, and we'll do our best to answer them.

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719-528-5577

info@outstandingsmile.com

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Colorado Springs, CO 80920

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