Your Dentist is Your Friend: Overcoming Dental Phobia

Practicing good oral hygiene habits at home combined with routine dentist visits at least twice a year will help prevent cavities and ward off foul breath. However, many people may be hesitant to see their dentist because of dental anxiety.

Dental Phobia

Dental anxiety or fear is a common phenomenon in children and adults alike. Patients may be squeamish about the technology used or terrified due to hearing horror stories from the internet or television. This fear may prevent patients from visiting the dentist at all, although the American Dental Association recommends a checkup every six months.

Anxiolytics

Our office offers the use of anxiolytics to help patients cope with their fear of the dentist. This is a prescription sedative that’s taken about an hour before the dental appointment so that the medication has time to work. The patient will still be awake for the appointment but will be relaxed and calm. The medication wears off completely in a matter of hours, usually leaving the patient with little memory of the procedure. Anxiolytics allow your dentist to provide you with the care you need without causing you any undue stress or anxiety and are a safe and effective option for those who are afraid of the dentist.