Dental Anxiety and Fear of Dentists Q&A

Being anxious before or during dental appointments is a fairly normal situation that could be due to several factors. Many people are just anxious about any sort of medical treatment in general as they may associate going to the doctor, dentist, or any other medical appointment with a fear of potential pain. Dental appointments also require patients to be in fairly vulnerable positions while having to also hold uncomfortable positions such as keeping your mouth wide open. The anxiety surrounding the dentist can also stem from feeling as if your personal space is being invaded or a loss of control. Additionally, it is very common for patients to have feelings of embarrassment when going to the dentist for fear that they have not been able to take proper care of their teeth since the last visit and that the dentist may be judgemental of the state of their teeth.

While the natural reaction to a fear of dentists is to prolong the time between visits, it can help alleviate the fear if regular visits are kept up, making you more used to the situation and ensuring that the teeth are properly cared for, eliminating the need for possibly more invasive treatments that may be required. It may also be beneficial to seek out a dental clinic that advertises catering to those with anxiety as they will be able to provide patience and do what they can to make the appointment as comfortable for you as possible. Do not be afraid to ask questions or for explanations at any point throughout the appointment as just having a better understating of what they are doing and why may help to alleviate some fear and anxiety. It may also prove to be beneficial for you to develop some coping mechanisms that work for you to alleviate some anxiety to use while in the dentist’s chair, such as breathing exercises or meditative mind spaces. You may also find that bringing in headphones to listen to your own choice of music or audiobooks will help to ease the anxiety as well. Another option is to ask your dental clinic before the appointment if you can bring a friend or family member with you to the appointment if their presence would help to further ease anxieties. 

Fear and anxiety surrounding the dentist are incredibly common in the United States, affecting around 36% of Americans, with about one-third of that percentage with extreme fear. Dental anxiety is typically more common in women than men but can affect anyone of any age. Around 10% to 20% of Americans will avoid going to the dentist due to this fear. Proper dental hygiene is an incredibly important aspect of maintaining our general health, making dental anxiety a fairly large problem that requires fixing to make sure that every American can get the proper dental care that they require throughout their lifetime. Many dental offices are aware of this fact and are happy to work with any individual to ensure that their appointment is as comfortable and pain-free as possible. 

The more commonly used term to describe the fear of dentists is dentophobia, but it may also be referred to as odontophobia. These terms are used to describe the actual fear that prevents many Americans from receiving proper oral hygiene care, but it is also common to have a slightly less extreme version of the fear displaying as general anxiety relating to medical appointments of any kind.

You may talk to your dentist about your fears if you’re feeling worried about going to the dentist, and you can both attempt to make the experience as relaxing as you can. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 11980 San Vicente Blvd Ste 900 Los Angeles, CA 90049. We serve patients from Brentwood CA, Santa Monica CA, West Los Angeles CA, Beverly Hills CA, West Hollywood CA, Venice CA, Culver City CA, and surrounding areas.