Dental phobia is a condition that means a person’s fear of the dentist is so great that they are unable to visit the dentist, causing their dental health to suffer as a result. Many dentists report that the most anxious patients are often the ones with the most serious dental concerns. This is because they are unable to rationalise their fear against the need to have dental treatment. It is important for all patients, no matter how great the phobia, to visit the dentist before their dental problems become irreversible. It is also important for many anxious patients to realise that many modern dentistry techniques are far less uncomfortable than they previously were.

There are many reasons why people are afraid of the dentist. The most common reason by far is a traumatic experience earlier in life. This could either be a painful procedure or a particularly unsympathetic dentist, which has put the patient off for life. Other common reasons are a sense of embarrassment about the condition of their teeth, a fear of dental instruments, or increasingly common, the transferred phobia. This is when a patient who is afraid of the dentist transfers the fear onto their children. All of these fears are common and not unusual but there are ways to overcome them.

One of the most useful ways to overcome your fear is to simply communicate them with a dentist. By expressing exactly what it is you are afraid of, a dentist can tailor your treatment accordingly and put your mind at ease about what exactly the procedure will involve. Patients often find that the reality of treatment is far less unpleasant than what they have imagined. Many patients also come to realise that dental technology advances have changed the way a procedure is performed meaning it is now much less uncomfortable.

For patients who still feel anxious about treatment, many dentists offer relaxation techniques such as aromatherapy and self-hypnosis to enable patients to remain calm during treatment. Scented candles and DVD goggles are two of the latest distraction and calming methods available.

For patients with extreme phobias it is possible to be completely sedated with medication before treatment. Whatever the most suitable way for you to relax, it is vitally important that you overcome your fears and visit the dentist. Healthy teeth and gums could save you years of unnecessary pain and misery so make an appointment now to discuss your fear with a City of Leeds dentist.

Recent studies have found that over 90 pre cent of people in the UK admit to having some fear of the dentist. This fear ranges from mild anxiety to fully blown dental phobia. The difference between a phobia and an anxiety is really made by a person’s ability to confront it. For most people, the consequences of not visiting the dentist far outweigh the anxieties they have about going for a check up. They are able to rationalise that having their teeth checked will benefit them in the long run. Someone who suffers with dental phobia is not able to make this same rationalisation, the fear is simply too great. The irony here of course is that by not visiting the dentist a dental phobic is increasing the chances that they will need more serious dental treatment in the future.

Dental phobias usually stem from similar reasons, in most cases. It is more often than not related to a past traumatic incident at the dentists, often during childhood. A painful procedure or a particularly unsympathetic dentist can put off a patient for life. Other patients talk about a feeling of lack of control when sitting in the dentist chair and a fear of instruments inserted into the mouth is also a common. In many cases the fear has been transferred from a parent to their child. The parent tells the child so often that the dentist is scary that they eventually start to believe it.

With the advances in dental technology, today there really is no need to fear the dentist. Many procedures that were previously complex and painful have been simplified or improved to minimise the discomfort to the patient, and the introduction of laser surgery has also shortened recovery times.

For patients with phobias it is often helpful to simply talk them through with a dentist. Dentists are specially trained to deal with nervous patients and you are hardly likely to be their first. Explaining your concerns will give the dentist an opportunity to reassure you about any specific anxieties.

Other tools that work for patients are relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques. These can greatly reduce the feelings of anxiety before an appointment. Recent studies have also shown lavender oil to be very useful in calming patients’ nerves before seeing the dentist. Whatever your concerns or the extent of your phobia, a City of Leeds will be able to help you overcome it. It really is in your own interest, to help prevent any dental complications that may need treatment in the future.