As common as dental phobias are, anxious people often can’t pinpoint their sources. Most of these folks just know they dislike dentists and don’t want to attend checkups. Even so, you really should learn the causes of these fears; doing so helps you overcome them. The good news is that your Goodyear practice can help you with this work. To that end, here’s a primer on what causes dental phobias and how to best conquer them.
Signs of Dental Phobias
While dental phobias do range in severity, they still tend to show specific signs. You can tell whether you have one by looking for such symptoms.
The most common signs of dental phobias (aside from severe anxiety) include the following:
- Chills, shivering, trembling, or shaking
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Excessive sweating (i.e., hyperhidrosis)
- Upset stomach or indigestion
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath (i.e., dyspnea)
The Causes of Dental Phobias
The truth is that dental phobias can have various causes. Still, some of the more notable ones are:
- Feeling Embarrassed — Sometimes, a patient feels strange about a dentist being close to their face. Others can worry about how their teeth look or whether their breath smells.
- A Sense of Helplessness — When lying in a chair with your mouth open for an extended period, you could easily feel a loss of control.
- Family History — In truth, having a family member with a phobic disorder increases your odds of having a dental phobia.
- Past Negative Experiences — If you’ve had a negative trauma related to the dentist, it may have caused your dentophobia.
How to Overcome Dental Phobias
There are many ways to overcome dental phobias, but two are worth mentioning in detail. These are exposure therapy and sedation dentistry.
Through exposure therapy, a trained therapist helps you work through your fear responses. They do so by exposing you to situations and images that may trigger your phobia. As your symptoms then manifest, the therapist will calm you with positive thinking, relaxation techniques, and similar material. This process should lead to a lasting reduction in your phobias.
Unlike exposure therapy, sedation dentistry uses sedatives to relax you for dental treatment. These medicines can range from nitrous oxide (i.e., “laughing gas”) and pills to an actual IV injection. That said, all such sedatives will similarly reduce a patient’s anxiety and keep them calm during care.
Now that you know what causes dental phobias, you can better deal with them. Still, don’t hesitate to talk to your dental provider for more help!
About the Practice
Goodman Dental is based in Goodyear, AZ. Led by Drs. Goodman and Hong, our practice offers all-inclusive dentistry that heals smiles and calms minds. You can trust our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to improve oral health in a spa-like setting. Through such services, you’ll achieve a strong and serene grin! For more details or to book a visit, please get in touch with us on our website or by phone at (623)-925-8822.