Why Is It Crucial to Overcome Dental Fear?

You just couldn’t believe it when your sister admitted she hasn’t been to the dentist in five years! When you asked her why, she said she always forgets to make an appointment. You aren’t buying that excuse since it’s been five years, after all, but you wonder how many other people are never getting treatment either. Read on as your dentist in Oshkosh discusses dental fear. It seems your sister might be facing a variation of it and her outlook needs to change.

What Reasons Do People Give for Dodging Dental Visits?

There are probably hundreds of reasons people might give, but here are five pretty common ones:

• Lack of Insurance: Someone may believe they simply cannot afford a dental visit. They might not think their insurance will cover treatment or maybe they don’t have any and have not checked on potential alternatives.
• No Symptoms: A person might think they feel just fine and have no reason for an exam. There could be trouble ahead and they don’t see it coming. A cleaning is always important.
• Forgetfulness: Someone will say they always forget to make an appointment. A well-placed sticky note reminder could remedy that.
• Shame: If you haven’t been to the dentist in a long time and are dealing with bad breath and/or dental issues, embarrassment or concern about being judged may keep you away.
• Fear: “Dentophobia” is a real thing. It can have many causes. Maybe a person witnessed someone else who seemed to be in pain at the dentist or they have a general fear of sharp objects.

Why Is Dental Fear Not Worth Sacrificing Your Oral Health?

• Dental tools shouldn’t be feared. If you are concerned about the tools used during an exam, ask the hygienist to explain to you what each one is used for before the cleaning and exam begin.
• The average dental appointment lasts an hour or less. If you are scheduled for a preventive dentistry exam, it’s not going to take up your whole afternoon. Having your vehicle serviced will usually take longer than maintenance for your mouth.
• Treatments can be explained in advance. If you are worried about what happens in a cleaning and exam, ask the hygienist to walk you through the process before any work begins.
• Seeing the dentist as a real person can be helpful. A dentist is a person just like you with hobbies and favorite foods – not a mysterious figure behind a mask. Having a quick chat about non-dental topics can be comforting when you first meet them.

Most people who don’t go to the dentist’s office probably believe their reasons for avoiding it are legitimate, but your teeth and gums won’t be interested in any excuses when plaque starts to take its toll. Making and following through on that one preventive dentistry appointment could mean everything when it comes to you getting more comfortable and defeating dental fear!

About the Author

Dr. Bob Heil earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Minnesota and he continues to strive to learn more within the dental field with advanced training in areas like dental sleep medicine and sedation dentistry. If you are working to overcome dental fear, Dr. Heil is a married father of four, so he has the patience to talk through all your questions to help you feel more comfortable. The more you know, the less there is to be afraid of. You can schedule an appointment on his website or by calling (920) 235-0320.