Does the thought of visiting your dentist’s office give you the heebie-jeebies? You’re not alone. "About 50 percent of Americans admit some fear of dental procedures and about 10 percent have so much fear and anxiety that they actually avoid dental care," says Sheela Raja, PhD, director of clinical behavioral sciences at the Colleges of Dentistry and Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
What’s even scarier than dental procedures? Skipping out on important treatments so that you end up doing more damage to your dental health. If your dental phobias are threatening your tooth health, read about these “terrifying” procedures that actually aren’t that terrifying — and find out how to ease the discomfort and quell your fears.
Got a cavity? This small hole in your tooth, which is usually caused by germ-containing plaque, is simple to treat. But for many people, the sight of the needle dentists use to numb the mouth before giving a filling can make treating cavities simply unbearable. Keep this in mind: If you don’t treat cavities early, they grow into larger holes, the bacteria can cause even more damage, and you may end up needing a more-complicated root canal.
"One helpful tip to lessen anxiety is to bring along an iPod to distract you and help you relax," says Raja. Also try to remember that, while the sight of a needle may be scary, it’s actually used to help offset pain.
The Dreaded Root Canal
During a root canal, damaged tissue is cleaned out from inside a tooth. It’s a long procedure (sometimes lasting about two hours), but it can save your tooth. So why do so many dental patients fret over root canals? "People with dental phobias may have had a bad dental experience in the past," says Alyson Hope Koslow, DDS, a clinical assistant professor of restorative dentistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. "But with modern dental anesthesia, a root canal is no more painful than getting a cavity filled." If the thought of being stuck in the dentist’s chair for a long time is what’s filling you with dread, Dr. Koslow suggests breaking it down into shorter, manageable visits.
Dental X-rays can help your dentist find little problems before they become bigger problems. But for people with a strong gag reflex or fear of radiation exposure, the process can sound downright dreadful. "In all dental procedures, your dentist should take the time to ask if you are afraid and why," says Raja. "If he doesn't ask, you should tell him." Your dentist can use a little topical anesthesia to help control your gag reflex during this short dental procedure. It also may help to remember that the actual radiation exposure from dental X-rays is relatively minimal compared with the radiation exposure you get naturally each day.
If your dentist recommends that you get a dental crown, it’s so you can protect a worn-out or weakened tooth. The most intimidating part about the procedure? The molding dentists use to make an impression for your crown. "Many people fear that they will gag, choke, or have trouble breathing when molding material is used inside the mouth," Koslow says. "Some ways your dentist can make this dental procedure easier on you are to have you sit upright, use a faster-setting mold, stand in front of you, and give you ongoing reassurance.”
Unnerving Dental Implants
Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth. These “fakes” look natural and are stable because they’re molded to your bone below your gums (or they may be used to attach full or partial dentures). But no matter how great the end result, you may fear implants because they involve surgery that can take several hours — and there’s a long healing process between the surgery to place the anchor and the actual placement of the implants. The best way to work through this fear is to take lots of time to discuss all the possible options with your dentist before getting started, including general versus local anesthesia.
Tooth Extractions (Eek!)
If your dentist tells you that you should undergo a tooth extraction, here’s what she means: To safeguard your dental health, she’ll need to pull one of your pearly whites. A tooth gets pulled when it’s beyond saving and is causing you pain, or if it’s a source of infection. "Fear of blood, needles, and the sounds of the dental procedure may all come into play when patients are anxious about getting a tooth pulled," notes Raja.
A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected, but your dental health provider will use techniques to minimize bleeding as much as possible. And pain should be able to be controlled by the anesthetic. "Ask your doctor if you can have a pain signal to stop the procedure if you feel pain," suggests Raja. "Since anxiety can build over the day, it might be best to schedule your dental procedure first thing in the morning."
How to Ease Your Dental Anxiety
If your fear of dental procedures is interfering with your tooth health, talk to your dentist. With modern dental anesthetics and a good patient-dentist relationship, you should be able to get through most dental procedures. "In some cases, your dentist may be able to help you by giving you a safe sedative, such as nitrous oxide or a small dose of [alprazolam]," says Koslow. If your dental fear becomes overwhelming, consider discussing your concerns with a mental health professional.
- Last Updated: 09/20/11
- Last Updated: 09/20/11