Is Pain Free Dentistry Possible?
If you have a fear of dentists, bad teeth, or just feel uneasy about letting someone else look around inside of your mouth, you should know that all of these feelings are completely normal. Although dental phobia definitions varies from patient to patient, dental anxiety is very real. Some people…
- Avoid or delay dental care, causing conditions to worsen or become more expensive to treat
- Feel embarrassed about their fear of the dentist
- Hide their smile because they’re ashamed of the way their teeth look
- Had a previous experience that was negative, and fear that a new dentist won’t understand or be willing to help them
Fortunately, when it comes to “dental phobia,” dentists have more options than ever before in regard to making your experience one that’s simple and something that you can look forward to.
What is dental anxiety? Any level of nervousness that prevents you from seeking out care or causes you to feel afraid when visiting the dentist.
Looking for Dental Anxiety Treatment Options?
Depending on your level of comfort and anxiety, there are different options to choose from when it comes to relieving dental phobia.
I’m Getting My First Filling – Do Dental Injections Hurt?
If you’ve never been numbed for a dental procedure, it’s natural to wonder whether or not it will be uncomfortable when it’s time for the local anaesthetic to be injected.
Fortunately, we can apply a bit of numbing jelly to your skin before the injection, so that the shot is more comfortable (or not even felt at all!) In many situations it’s common to not notice the small pinch of the medication being administered, because the tissue already feels numb. But once the anaesthetic sets in, it can last for up to 3-4 hours. That’s why we prefer to only work on one area of your mouth at a time; the last thing you want is to have your entire mouth feel numb for the rest of the afternoon!
Tips to overcome your dental phobia or anxiety
- Schedule your appointment first thing in the morning, when you’re well reste
- Eat a light meal, so that there’s only a small amount of food in your stomach
- Talk to us beforehand about previous experiences that you’ve had, or steps we can take to help you feel more comfortable
- Bring a list of all current medications, so that we can discuss whether you qualify for sedation (and which type)
