Dental Anxiety: The 5 W’s

whowhatwherearrowsEven if you are a patient who wants to schedule all of the visits you need and want, from preventive and restorative treatments to the cosmetic services that will make your smile that much prettier, something might be holding you back. Like many patients, you may be facing dental anxiety. Unfortunately, though you might think to yourself that this shouldn’t be an excuse, it’s a very real and often very challenging issue to work through. To learn more about this type of anxiety and how to address it, we suggest you consider our who-what-where-when-why information as you get started.

Who Does It Affect?

Dental anxiety is something that does not necessarily affect just one type of person but anyone who is struggling to feel confident coming in for care. There’s a variety of reasons this could occur, such as:

  • Negative past experiences
  • Fear of new procedures
  • Concern about comfort
  • Dislike of certain smells or tastes associated with dental care

What Is It?

Dental anxiety refers to someone who experiences nervousness at the thought of receiving dental care. This sensation can fall on a very broad spectrum of anxiety.

Where Does It Occur?

It generally occurs when a patient is thinking about care, considering dental care, or when a patient is experiencing a dental visit. It can happen anywhere.

When Can You Start Making Things Better?

We can immediately start helping you with your dental anxiety concern. We will gladly set up a consultation with you, so we can talk with you about your options, about dental sedation, about what you can expect, and about the gentle care we provide.

Why Is It Important To Address It?

It’s important to address your anxiety because if you don’t, chances are good that you will fail to receive the care you need for your smile to remain healthy. This can lead to very serious consequences, such as oral health decline and tooth loss.