Tips to Ease Dental Anxiety in People of All Ages

There are people of all ages who feel nervous when they drop into a dentist's chair. Anxieties and phobias about visits to the dentists are at least partly responsible for more than 40 million Americans not going to the dentist every year, even though such a visit can help stave off oral health issues that often carry consequences for overall good health.

Some adults can attribute some fear to having had bad dental experiences in the chair as children or with painful episodes of dealing with the removal of wisdom teeth, to name one common procedure. Others avoid the dentist because they don't like needles, hate the sound of nearby whirling drill or feel compromised by the sensory intimacy of work being done inside their mouth.

Dental phobia is when a person will do anything possible to avoid going to a dentist. People who have from it will only re-visit a dental office again to relieve extreme pain. These people understand that their fear is irrational, but their emotions are too strong to overcome.

• Signs of dental phobia include:

• Going to the dentist's office, but are unable to enter the building

• Becoming physically ill or crying at just the thought of going to the dentist

• Not sleeping the night before a dental appointment

• Feeling nervous, a emotion that intensifies the closer you get to the dental office

How to Ease Dental Anxieties

Millions of people suffer from dental anxiety. Whether you've had a bad experience, are afraid of what they will discover, or perhaps you are scared there will be pain involved with the visit, there is help for you.

One thing to remember about dental visits is, generally the more you go, the less your oral issues become problematic – and the fewer issues you will experience. Overall, that means fewer and less-costly treatments. The longer you put off a visit to the dentist, the higher your risk is of developing serious problems that will require more treatment.

10 Strategies to Cope with Dental Anxiety

Here are 10 strategies you can use at your next appointment to ease your anxiety and make your time in the dentist charge less scary and more productive.

Why Regular Dental Care is Important

An annual or biannual cleaning and exam of your teeth is the foundation of preventive dental care. This is how you ensure optimal oral health. At an annual dental appointment, your dentist will check for gum disease, cavities, or other common problems that can occur inside your mouth. If there are any issues discovered, you will discuss proper treatment so these problems don't become severe.

Cleanings provided during an annual checkup can help prevent cavities. Cleanings are a form of preventive care, and during these, the plaque is effectively removed from your teeth. The advanced dental equipment used during the cleanings is much more effective than your use of an electric or manual toothbrush at home. Your dentist also has the expertise and the right tools to remove calcified plaque and tartar. It would be extremely difficult if not impossible for regular brushing to remove tartar from your teeth. When not removed, tartar can lead to gum disease, which would eventually cause you to lose a tooth.

Knowing the importance of regular dental care should help you decide it's time for your annual checkup. If you experience anxiety about this visit, or if you know someone who does experience dental anxieties, the above tips will help you stay calm at the dentist.

Set Expectations with Your Dentist

Your dentist wants you to have annual or biannual exams and cleanings. Talk to them about the expectations you have to make your dental experience more comfortable. Dentists are professionals and will want to work with you to make your dental care as stress-free as possible.

Even though you may not feel calm through every treatment, having your dentist aware of your anxiety will make your oral care go much easier, and get you that smile you deserve.