Taking the "Horror" Out of Dental Visits
Whir. Scrape. Swipe. Your mouth agape, you anxiously await the next moment you will be granted permission to swallow. The smell of rubber gloves pervades the sterile ambiance as you glance up, temporarily blinded by a bright light from above, just before a masked figure wielding metal tools looms over you. The scene sounds a bit like something out of a horror show, but in reality, it’s just a visit to the dentist. However, for some people this very scenario induces horror—a horror so great that they would rather skip professional dental care altogether.
Dental phobias, for afflicted individuals, are a reflex—a response of their body that tells them something just isn’t right. While these individuals may have no control over their dental fears, the fears are important to overcome due to the heavy impact on dental health and general well-being. If you suffer from dental fears, you don’t have to hide from the dentist until your teeth fall out. Many family dentistry experts are finding ways to treat even the most frightened patients.
Fear of the dentist is technically termed “dentophobia” or “odontophobia”—words which mean that afflicted individuals find a visit to the dentist to be just about the worst thing in the world. According to dental experts, dentophobics experience a physical reaction—an internal fight-or-flight response—that makes it impossible for them to sit in the dentist’s chair, much less open wide for a check-up and cleaning.
What’s the solution?
More and more dentists are turning their practices into a safe haven for dentophobics, offering dental services that include sedation or complete anesthesia and an environment that is gentle and relaxing, more like a spa.
One dentist in New York uses his skills and expertise in dentistry to specialize in helping people who have extreme dental phobias. He has worked with a variety of dentophobics—some whose dental fears can be traced back to a traumatic experience in childhood or a dental procedure gone awry due to improper anesthetization. For others, the fear may be related to a discomfort, such as difficulty breathing during dental work. Whatever the reason for their dental fears, they still need routine dental care. Since many of these patients go years between appointments, their check-ups are generally more extensive than would normally be necessary, thereby exacerbating the issue.
In an effort to help each patient achieve and maintain optimal oral health, dental experts turn to a few time-tested “tips and tricks” to get their patients into the office and ultimately through their dental check-up.
One study out of Sweden found these common coping practices to be the most useful for overcoming dental fears and phobias:
- Distraction. Tell yourself a story, count, or play a mental game with yourself
- Distance. Distance yourself from the experience by imagining the pain is an alternate, more palatable sensation
- Meditation. Pray, chant, or take your mind away from the moment
- Self-efficacy. Speak encouraging words to yourself and seek inner strength
- Optimism. Remind yourself that everything will be fine
To truly reduce your fear, practice prevention. The more diligently you practice proper dental care throughout the year, including bi-annual check-ups with your family dentistry team, the less “scary” your dental appointments will be.
To get the dental care you deserve from an affordable dentist in Virginia, call Dental One Associates of Virginia today at or make an appointment.
Dental One Associates offers affordable family dentistry and gentle, compassionate dental care in Virginia. With 4 affiliated practices throughout Virginia, our offices are conveniently located with extended hours to meet your needs. At Dental One Associates of Virginia, we provide most dental services, from basic preventative care and general dentistry to specialized procedures and complete dental reconstruction. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Patient satisfaction is our top priority and we strive to provide the exceptional, affordable dental care and personal touch that lead to lasting relationships. A smiling patient is our greatest reward and we look forward to keeping those smiles healthy, beautiful, and bright. Discover an affordable dentist who truly cares at Dental One Associates of Virginia.
