Nearly one-third of all Americans have concerns of going to the dentist. More than 10% of American adults have an extreme concern of dental visits, and 3% of American adults have never visited the dentist because of their concerns. If you are one of the millions of Americans who are concerned about visiting a dental practitioner, here are some steps you can take to ease your fears.
Tips on Dental Concerns and How to Overcome Them
You should ask around to find an understanding dentist. You will want to find a dentist who is understanding and sympathetic to your concerns. Many dentists know some of their patients may struggle with dental fears and will do everything they can to help you.
Inquire about dental sedation, especially if you have an extreme fear. Dental sedation is a great tool that dentists have to help their patients with dental anxiety. There are three forms of dental sedation, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation. Many patients feel better visiting the dentist if they know there's a way to relieve their dental anxiety.
Ask the dentist about breaking up your dental visit into manageable chunks. For example, you and the dentist may decide to do a dental cleaning on one visit and the dental exam and x-rays on another visit. Some dental patients find that breaking the visits up gives them less anxiety.
You may want to make an appointment just to visit the dentist's office to get familiar with the layout of the office and the tools used in dentistry. For some patients, getting a look at modern dental equipment is very reassuring.
Whatever steps you decide to take with the dentist, it's important to have a frank conversation with the dentist about your fears. That way, you will feel better about your dental visit, and the dentist can prepare to make your visit as comfortable as possible.
Dental Blog | Lehigh Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Allentown, PA Check out the dental blog that Lehigh Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Allentown, PA put together to educate our patients. Lehigh Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 1251 S Cedar Crest Blvd #311, Allentown, PA 18103 ^ (610) 435-6161 ^ lehighoms.com ^ 2/6/2025 ^ Page Terms:oral surgeon Allentown PA ^
Nearly one-third of all Americans have concerns of going to the dentist. More than 10% of American adults have an extreme concern of dental visits, and 3% of American adults have never visited the dentist because of their concerns. If you are one of the millions of Americans who are concerned about visiting a dental practitioner, here are some steps you can take to ease your fears.