Dental anxiety is common for kids, teens, and adults. The solution to dental anxiety varies from person to person and so does the severity. But the result of dental anxiety can cause some serious problems. Many young adults cite dental anxiety as part or the whole reason they are not making dental appointments for themselves. And as children, dental anxiety adds a lot of stress and creates a negative relationship between kids and their oral health. In addressing dental anxiety there are a few things to consider. What is the cause and how can it be solved? One of the most important ways to solve dental anxiety is to choose the right dentist. For kids and adults, a dental office that prioritizes your comfort is essential to breaking through anxiety. In this article, we will discuss causes, solutions, and finding that dentist in your area.
What Causes Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety has so many different causes. And in trying it solve it, it is important to get to the root cause. For example, some people develop anxiety as a form of the fear of the unknown. This is common with kids. Medical visits to doctors, and dentists, and even getting their hair cut can scare them. Not knowing who this person is next to the chair can be unnerving. On top of this, the fact that a stranger is leading them through a bunch of new procedures can add to the confusion.
Another common reason is a bad experience. Let’s be honest. Medical procedures can cause discomfort. And when you are a kid it is hard to grasp how important a cleaning or a dental filling is, and how the discomfort they might feel during the treatment is protecting them from worse problems in the future. Even as adults, we all want to avoid pain or discomfort. If you had a negative experience during an exam or a tooth extraction, it can be hard to shake it off.
One other reason is just pure reputation. There is no limit to the number of shows, jokes, movies, etc. that paint a dental office in a bad light. Making the dentist the punchline in a joke is pretty common. From a young age, you can get used to this idea of not looking forward to the dentist or even being afraid of it.
How To Solve Dental Anxiety
If the anxiety stems from the fear of the unknown, you need to remove the unknown. For example, having a parent sit with their child throughout the experience can help a child who is worried about being with a stranger. Learning what each procedure is and what is being done can also help. Good pediatric dentists can calmly explain what they do before they do it to remove that anxiety. Knowing what is happening and why it is happening can go a long way. Additionally, giving a patient time to process what is happening is also important. Some kids need to hear how the cleaning is going to work and then be asked if they are ready. Giving control back to the kids is a great way to help alleviate that fear.
If the anxiety comes from a bad experience, you will need to find a dentist that can address that bad experience. If you had a negative experience getting a tooth pulled or getting a filling, talk to a new dentist about it. Sometimes they can explain how they might do this procedure differently or even have other numbing agents that they can use. Communication is key.
Finally, if the reputation of dentists in general spooks you, you need to find a dentist that is highly recommended. A good dentist doesn’t use shame or fear or make you feel bad during your dental visit. They are kind, patient, comforting, and provide good services.
How To Find The Right Dentist
One thing to note is no matter where your stress stems from or how you need to address it, nothing matters more than picking the right dentist. Finding a good dentist comes down to a few things. Find a dentist that provides the services you need and that has insurance or payment options that work for you. Additionally, check reviews online or ask other people for recommendations on dentists that provide high-quality services. If you need a family dentist in Chicago, we have 10 locations that work hard to provide positive experiences for patients of all ages.