Dentophobia, or the fear of dentists and dental treatments, is one of the most common phobias in the world. According to the American Dental Association, approximately 30% of Americans avoid going to the dentist because they are afraid. If you are one of those people, we want to let you know that there is help available! Sedation dentistry can help you overcome your fears and have a relaxing and enjoyable dental experience. In this blog post, we will discuss what sedation dentistry is and how it can benefit you.

What is Dentophobia?

Dentophobia is an extreme and irrational fear of dental treatments. It can manifest itself in physical symptoms such as a racing heart, rapid breathing, trembling, or sweating. For some people, it may even be disabling and keep them from seeking necessary treatment.

It is an extreme fear that’s out of proportion to the situation. People with dentophobia avoid seeing the dentist even when they’re in pain. This condition is so severe that it can lead to very poor dental health. These problems may affect a person’s relationships or job prospects, too.

Severe fear of dental treatment involves feelings of distress, but these feelings aren’t as extreme as dentophobia. People with dental anxiety worry a lot about pain or stress at the dentist, but will likely still see their dentist for treatment, unlike those with dentophobia.

Types of Dental Fear

Dentophobia can be divided into numerous elements. Most people with this phobia fear more than one element, while those with severe dentophobia may fear all or most elements simultaneously.

The Dentist: 

Like doctors, IRS auditors, and others in commonly feared professions, “the dentist” is often irrationally and mistakenly cast as cold and unfeeling at best, or sadistic at worst. If you have had a negative personal experience with a particular dentist, you may be more prone to this phobia.2

Pain: 

Until relatively recently, completely painless dentistry was difficult or impossible. Even today, some procedures may involve a slight amount of pain. Many people are extremely sensitive to mouth pain and fear that the pain may be excruciating.

Numbness or Gagging:

Some people, particularly those who have experienced choking or difficulty breathing, are afraid of having their mouths numbed. You might worry that you will be unable to breathe or swallow.

Sounds and Smells: 

Many people, particularly those who have had previous bad experiences with dentists, are afraid of the sounds and smells of a dentist’s office, particularly the sound of the drill.

Needles:

If you have a needle phobia, you might be extremely afraid of the injections that dentists use to numb the mouth.

How Sedation Dentistry Can Help You Overcome Your Dental Anxiety

Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective way to manage dental anxiety. This type of dentistry uses medication to help you relax during your treatment. There are several types of sedation that can be used, including oral medications (like sleeping pills), inhalation sedation (using nitrous oxide or “laughing gas”) and intravenous (IV) sedation. Sedation dentistry can help you feel calm and relaxed, even if you have a severe fear of the dentist.

Sedation dentistry is usually administered by a trained and certified dentist who will monitor your vital signs throughout the procedure. With this type of dentistry, you may not remember much or anything at all about the procedure. This can be very helpful for those who have an extreme fear of the dentist.

Sedation dentistry can make it much easier to receive necessary dental care. It can also help alleviate some of the physical symptoms that come with dental anxiety, such as increased heart rate and sweating. In addition, sedation dentistry can improve the efficacy of the procedure by allowing the dentist to work more efficiently and reduce recovery time.

With sedation dentistry, you don’t have to be afraid of going to the dentist anymore. You can relax knowing that you are in safe hands and receive the dental care you need without fear or anxiety. Sedation dentistry can help you overcome your dental anxiety and get the smile you’ve always wanted.

Make an Appointment with Premier Dentistry of Eagle

At Premier Dentistry of Eagle, we understand that dental anxiety can be a real and sometimes debilitating problem. That’s why we offer sedation dentistry services to help you feel relaxed and comfortable when receiving your dental care. If you suffer from dental anxiety, contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss how sedation dentistry can help you. We look forward to helping you overcome your dental anxiety and giving you the smile you’ve always wanted.