Most people are afraid of the dentist because they think it will hurt. Modern materials and improved techniques means that dentists are able to virtually eliminate pain from dentistry. And by visiting the dentist regularly problems can be spotted early and resolved before any pain or infection occurs.
Dentists are compassionate
Most dentists enter the profession because they want to help people with oral health and transform the lives of their patients. There is perhaps no better feeling than to help someone overcome painful and sometimes embarrassing dental problems, and to improve their patients' smiles.
How common are dentophobia and dental fear? About 36% of people in the U.S. have a fear of dental treatment, with 12% having an extreme fear. About 3% of adults in industrialized countries may have dentophobia and avoid going to the dentist at all. Fear of dentists is more common in females than in males.
Dental anxiety is common and can affect people of any age. Children who have had bad dental experiences in most cases can overcome their fear if the situation is managed well and they are well cared for and supported during further dental visits.
As health professionals, dentists aren't interested in judging you or making you feel bad. All they really care about is your oral health. Rather than worrying about what they might think of you on a personal level, think of dentists as partners who are on your side and working to protect your oral health.
Crying or feeling the desire to cry is extremely common when you are experiencing high levels of anxiety. Pay attention to your emotions when you are thinking about a visit to the dental office.
If you haven't been to the dentist in several years, there's a good chance you may have one or two cavities that require attention. If you are visiting the dentist due to severe pain, you may need root canal therapy to address an infection that has entered the underlying pulp.
1. COST. Across most age groups, the cost is the biggest reason why people choose not to see their dentist.
In situations where the injection rate is too rapid, or the tissues involved are very dense, pressure is created as the anesthetic must force its way into the surrounding tissues. And it's this tissue stretching and trauma that causes pain.
The most painful dental procedure is likely to be a root canal as it requires removing the nerve tissue from the tooth's pulp chamber. To mitigate the pain associated with this procedure, it is best to visit your dentist regularly and use preventive techniques such as brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day.
Your dentist may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs, such as diazepam (Valium), that you can take one hour before a scheduled dental visit. Your dentist may also recommend conscious sedation, such as nitrous oxide (or “laughing gas”), which can help calm nerves.
You might be experiencing dental anxiety, which is recognized by uneasiness or exaggerated fears about going to the dentist. It's also characterized by being embarrassed to go to the dentist because of the state of your mouth, how your teeth look, or being very close to a dentist during an appointment.
Mercury is toxic.
One of the most important topics in “what dentists don't want you to know” is about Mercury. Some dentists still use mercury in their fillings, but composite filling is by far superior. Some countries have gone so far as to ban mercury fillings over safety concerns.
If you haven't been to the dentist in over 10 years, it is likely that you will need to fill a cavity and/or take preventative action against gum disease.
Dental anxiety, or dental fear, is estimated to affect approximately 36% of the population, with a further 12% suffering from extreme dental fear [1].
Usually, the recommended maximum amount of time between dental appointments is six months. However, your dentist in Fairfax may recommend that certain people visit more often, including those who are at higher risk of developing dental problems such as: Pregnant women. Smokers.
If you haven't been to the dentist for quite some time now, you're going to need professional dental cleaning. Since you haven't been to the dentist for several years, you will likely have plaque buildup around your teeth. This is perfectly normal and is not something to be embarrassed about.
During routine dental examinations and cleanings, dentists can detect oral symptoms of stress, including orofacial pain, bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), mouth sores and gum disease. If you're feeling tense or anxious, you should keep a watchful eye for signs of the following stress-related disorders.
You know that too much stress can lead to a decline in your overall health, but severe stress can also cause problems in your teeth, jaw, mouth, and gums.
Patients who neglect proper care of their mouths by not regularly seeing a dentist, risk not only getting tooth and gum disease, but they also risk getting diseases and illnesses in other parts of their body. Some major health conditions related to oral health include heart disease, diabetes, stroke and breast cancer.
Most Teeth Can Be Corrected
While sometimes their tooth decay was advanced enough to be a serious problem, a simple cavity can be surprisingly painful. So, it is important not to wait until you can't stand the pain and discomfort and have treated sooner rather than later.
"Often, diseases like cancer, anemia and diabetes will first be identified by the dentist in a regular examination, and this saves lives." And it's not just diseases—dentists can discover everything from your bad habits to your favorite beverages simply by asking you to say, "Ahh!" 1.