Dental Anxiety
Are you scared or anxious about visiting the Dentist? We are here to help!
Are you scared or anxious about visiting the Dentist? We are here to help!
Surveys estimate that approximately 13% to 24% of people around the world fear the dentist. If you find the idea of visiting a dentist or having a dentist examine your mouth as a stressful experience, then you may have dental anxiety.
From experience, we can tell you that one of the best ways to cope with dental anxiety is to find a dentist who cares and understands you and who is friendly. A lot of our patients naturally relax when they realise that they are in the hands of a gentle and caring dentist who focuses on their comfort throughout the visit. This assurance alone makes our patients calm their nerves and settle their fears giving them the courage to go through a procedure.
In addition to this, we take dental anxiety seriously, and this is why we have an in-house sleep dentistry facility. Our dental sedation clinic allows patients with severe dental anxiety to sleep through the entire procedure so that they do not have to worry about visualising or listening to any of the dental tools.
If you have second thoughts about visiting a dentist because of dental anxiety, then talk to us to discuss ways in which we can help you be comfortable and relaxed during your dental visits.
What are the common causes of dental anxiety?
Dental anxiety creates emotions of panic, stress, and fear when a person visits a dental clinic or is about to go through a dental procedure. Some people suffer from mild dental anxiety. For them, the idea of visiting a dentist can be disturbing but not terrorising. Others who suffer from a more severe form of dental anxiety, the idea of a dental visit can be so stressful that they avoid a dentist visit entirely. They only choose to go to the dentist if they are suffering from a significant dental problem that a visit to the dental clinic can only solve.
Significant causes of dental fear or anxiety can be:
Past bad experiences
Agoraphobia and Claustrophobia
Trust issues
Embarrassment
Painfulness or fear of the dentist
Past experiences make a difference
Past experiences make a difference
Most people suffering from dental anxiety relate their fear to bad experiences in the past. If your first dental visit as a child was a bad experience, then you are likely to carry the fear of dentists through to your teenage years and sometimes even your adult life. This is the reason why our dentists make sure that children are made very comfortable before they undergo any dental procedure.
Agoraphobia and Claustrophobia
A person living with agoraphobia has difficulty imagining themselves in a situation where they feel they cannot escape. Since they see dental visits as one such situation, they may end up panicking about being subject to a dental setting. People living claustrophobia fear closed spaces. Since dental clinics typically create the idea of a closed room, it can be stressful for people with claustrophobia to visit a dentist.
Trust issues
Trust issues
A dentist may require the patient to trust him or her when it comes to carrying out dental procedures. Someone with trust issues will automatically panic in a dental clinic since they may fear about sedation or the dentist not doing their work correctly. Our dentists take the time to bond with the patients and build trust so that the patients are comfortable and relaxed before they start any procedure.
Embarrassment
The number of people who fear dental visits because of embarrassment is surprisingly high. They worry that their teeth are the worst that the dentist would have seen or that their lack of oral hygiene will cause the dentist to judge them or humiliate them. Overcoming dental anxiety caused by a fear of embarrassment usually requires you to take the first step of visiting a dentist. The face to face consultation can give you the authentic experience of our outstanding customer care. This consultation will make you realise that our dentists listen and understand your concerns. Our team is non-judgemental and works with you for your dental health and tries to do their best to solve your dental problems.
Painfulness
Painfulness
Dentistry is often perceived as a painful process. People avoid a dentist simply because they have seen friends and families suffer too much pain after a procedure. Some may even be too scared or needles and other dental tools. Our sleep dentistry facility is designed mainly to address the problem of painfulness that many people fear when they are visiting a dentist.
These are only a few of the many reasons why people suffer from dental anxiety. We have had patients who explain their fear of dental visits for many other reasons too.
“I fear that I will choke and not get enough air while the procedure is ongoing.”
“What if the problem is bigger than I expected I am not ready for a lot of treatment.”
These are only a few of the many reasons why people suffer from dental anxiety. We have had patients who explain their fear of dental visits for many other reasons too.
“I fear that I will choke and not get enough air while the procedure is ongoing.”
“What if the problem is bigger than I expected I am not ready for a lot of treatment.”
“I faint at the sight of injections.”
“I feel sick at the sound of the drill.”
If you are able to relate to any of these, then you must discuss solutions for dental anxiety or let us know about your fear of dentistry so we can help you in the best way possible.
What are the signs and symptoms of dental anxiety?
What are the signs and symptoms of dental anxiety?
If you are nervous about visiting a dentist, then you have dental anxiety, but this is very common among the patients we see. Sometimes, you may not even realise that you suffer from dental anxiety until you are at the dental clinic waiting for your appointment. If you have dental anxiety, then some of the characteristic behaviours would include:
Fidgeting your hands while waiting for the dentist
Sitting on the edge of the chair and displaying nervousness.
Sweating profusely in anticipation of the procedure
Talking too loudly or making negative comments about the dentist
Trying to procrastinate when it comes to dental appointments.
Coming up with excuses to delay a dental visit
How can our dentists at Healthy Smiles Melbourne help you?
Dental anxiety has deep-rooted psychological reasons which differ from person to person. Acknowledgment of the fact that every person has a unique reason to fear dentists and may have their reservations about a dental visit is essential. This is the philosophy that our caring dentists at Blackburn work with.
Spending time with the patient to understand their fears and the possible solutions is the best way to address dental anxiety. Our dentists will make sure you are comfortable and relaxed before they begin any dental procedure. Some of the solutions we adopt to help our patients overcome dental anxiety and have a positive dental experience are:
Sleep dentistry
Sleep dentistry
It is possible that based on the extent of your anxiety, our dentists may suggest sleep dentistry as a solution. We have an in-house sleep dentistry facility. This can help you sleep through the entire procedure, so you do not have to continually see or hear the dental tools or the dentist carrying out the procedure. Many people choose this as a viable option for overcoming fears of visiting a dentist’s office.
Happy gas
Happy gas
Nitrous oxide is safely given through a small nose piece which helps you feel relaxed and reduces the amount of pain you may experience during the procedure. It is prevalent for carrying out dental procedures for children but we may also recommend it for adults who have dental anxiety.
Pre-appointment medication
Pre-appointment medication
Our dentist will prescribe a medicine which you can take approximately an hour before the procedure. This medication will have a relaxing effect on your senses, helping you go through the dental procedure without feeling stressed or anxious about it. Since this soothing effect lasts for approximately 6 to 8 hours, it is recommended that you have someone to drive you to and from the dental clinic if you are using pre-appointment medication.
Painless Injection
Painless Injection
We use painless injections which are administered by a computer-guided, injection system. The computer controls the delivery of the medication to make it less painful, helping you overcome fears of painfulness and needles.
Caring and non-judgemental dentists at Healthy Smiles in Blackburn, Melbourne who Understand Dental Anxiety
Our doctors understand dental anxiety and the pressures it can create on a person when they have to undergo a dental procedure. We have friendly and caring doctors who create a warm and welcoming environment that helps you relax and be comfortable so that you enjoy a positive dental experience. Talk to us now to find out more about our facilities and our team.
Does your child have dental anxiety? here’s what you should do
Does your child have dental anxiety? here’s what you should do
A visit to the dentist helps in developing healthy dental habits in your children and makes sure that their teeth are in good condition. We understand that for many parents, this is a struggle because even the calmest of kids are shaken up with the thought of a dentist looking in their mouth. Having to sit still in a chair tipped backwards with a bright light shining in their eyes, and a dentist poking around the mouth, creates panic among kids. And even though they may have a million things in the world to do than visit a dentist, good oral hygiene is something that cannot be overlooked or ignored. For children, introducing dental visits early helps allay future fears of the dentist and helping them understand the importance of visiting the dentist.
At the same time, if you are a parent who suffers from dental anxiety, then it is imperative to avoid your anxiety affecting your kids too.
Our team of dentists are trained to make dental visits comfortable for children by being open, honest, and friendly. For kids visiting Healthy Smiles, dentists are friendly and fun to be with. Learning that a visit to the dentists doesn’t have to be scary often creates the early foundations for good oral health, helping kids avoid serious dental problems.
Our team of dentists are trained to make dental visits comfortable for children by being open, honest, and friendly. For kids visiting Healthy Smiles, dentists are friendly and fun to be with. Learning that a visit to the dentists doesn’t have to be scary often creates the early foundations for good oral health, helping kids avoid serious dental problems.
How much does it cost to treat Dental Anxiety in Melbourne?
The cost will vary according to the treatment of dental anxiety. We make it very affordable, keeping all types of patients in mind. The price usually starts from $179 and it may increase depending on the treatment.
The Healthy Smile Promise to You
We promise to provide you with the highest quality of dental services along with the assurance that our dentists will always keep your comfort in mind during the checkup and any procedure that you undergo. Our team understands the concern and anxieties many patients experience as they prepare themselves for a dental visit, and we provide you with an environment and a staff that does its best to allay these fears.
You will have control over the situation and the outcomes. We will use the least painful methods at all times, providing you with a dental experience that is free of discomfort and stress. Our investment in technology and new dental techniques which improve the procedure and reduce painfulness is based on the philosophy that our patients should never have to undergo stressful experiences.
Why is “now” the time for you to visit the dentist?
Why is “now” the time for you to visit the dentist?
Dental problems cause a lot of pain and impact your overall confidence. Bad breath, misaligned teeth, a missing tooth or a chipped tooth, changes the way you look at yourself and may affect your confidence as you talk to others or smile in front of the camera.
Over time, dental problems increase, and they may cause even more trouble leading to severe issues that may require complex procedures which cannot be avoided any longer. This is why we believe in taking care of the problem as early as possible. Suppose you have been delaying your dental appointments because of anxiety. In that case, it is time to visit us at Healthy Smiles where you will receive personalised care and attention and you will have control over procedures we carry out. At the same time, your comfort will be of primary concern for our team when they conduct the checkup, or carry out a consultation or a procedure.
Over time, dental problems increase, and they may cause even more trouble leading to severe issues that may require complex procedures which cannot be avoided any longer. This is why we believe in taking care of the problem as early as possible. Suppose you have been delaying your dental appointments because of anxiety. In that case, it is time to visit us at Healthy Smiles where you will receive personalised care and attention and you will have control over procedures we carry out. At the same time, your comfort will be of primary concern for our team when they conduct the checkup, or carry out a consultation or a procedure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does sleep dentistry cost in Melbourne?
Sleep dentistry can cost you anywhere between $1,350 to $6,000 based on the amount of time required for the treatment and the complexity of the treatment. Our dentists will be able to provide you with details of the costs once they carefully examine your teeth and identify the course of treatment.
What if I have problems with needles?
We have solutions for patients who are afraid of needles. Our dentists will identify alternative methods like the use of happy gas to help you overcome anxiety and reduce the use of needles for the procedure. The focus of all our dentists is to make sure you are comfortable and relaxed before we start any procedure.
Will I need someone to accompany me for the procedure?
It is ideal to have someone with you if you have an appointment for a dental procedure. This is because we may use different solutions to help you relax your nerves and overcome anxiety. The effect of some of these continues for a few hours after the procedure as well. So having some drive you home will be helpful once the procedure is completed.
Can you make a dental procedure entirely painless for me?
We use a variety of techniques to reduce the amount of discomfort you may experience when you undergo a dental procedure. Sometimes you may not experience any pain at all, but sometimes you may still feel some extent of the problem.
What can I do to overcome dental anxiety in the waiting area?
Different patients use different techniques to reduce anxiety while waiting for your turn. It is ideal to arrive at the waiting area at a time when you won’t have to wait too long. Usually, 15 minutes before your appointment is acceptable. Use headphones and listen to calming and relaxing music or anything that distracts you from the upcoming situation. This helps most people reduce the stress they may experience and prepares them for the procedure in a better way. It is also good to talk to the dentist before the procedure begins and discuss your fears instead of trying to hide them.