Dental anxiety is common and may affect one in every six adult Australians. Past experiences, fear of pain, and fear of losing control while in the dentist’s chair are usually among the common causes of dental anxiety. The good thing is that small measures such as communicating your fears to your dentist, signalling him to stop his treatment when necessary, and beginning with a simple examination can help a lot. As the best dentist in Brighton, we put your needs and comfort before ours and work at your own pace.
If the thought of an upcoming visit to a dentist causes a knot to form in your stomach, then you are not alone. Approximately 16% of adult Australians are known to suffer from dental anxiety and fear, as per the research carried out by the Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health at the University of Adelaide. That represents a large number of individuals who avoid going for their dental checkups because the fear of visiting the dentist feels more painful than the actual problem. We have been working as dentists Brighton families trust for decades and have seen this happening time and again. Here are some of the main causes of dental anxiety and how to overcome them.
What Causes Dental Anxiety?
Anxiety related to visiting a dentist doesn’t occur out of nowhere. Most of the time, it develops as a result of various factors. For example, an unpleasant or hectic experience during childhood can have a significant impact on how one feels in such situations. Sounds of drilling, inability to see what happens, or just lying still to give up control can trigger a stress reaction even in those patients who do not think of themselves as nervous.
One of the common sources of anxiety is connected with costs. In a study of dental fear conducted in Australia, cost was found to be the top source of anxiety for patients, above needles and the fear of pain itself.
Is Dental Anxiety Actually Common?
Yes, and it is even more prevalent than many think. Around 1 in 6 adults living in Australia suffer from varying degrees of dental fear, while some have a more extreme form of fear, which prevents them from visiting the dentist. If you have avoided visiting the dentist due to your fear, then you are not exaggerating, but you are certainly not the only one. It is very common for dentists to work with anxious patients on a regular basis.
Why Avoiding the Dentist Can Make Things Harder
While it is perfectly normal to stay away from anything that causes anxiety, avoiding dental problems is usually not going to solve them, but will only exacerbate them in the long run. While small problems like caries and gingivitis may be resolved faster and without many complications, they become very serious if they are left untreated for several years. This makes further treatment not only more complicated but reinforces the initial cause of your anxiety about visiting the dentist.
By regularly visiting the dentist, they will become familiar with your oral cavity and thus be able to notice small problems before they become big and hard to tackle.
Practical Ways to Manage Dental Anxiety
A few simple strategies can take a lot of the edge off, even if you’ve avoided the dentist for years.
Talk to your dentist before you’re in the chair. Let the team know you feel anxious when you book, or mention it at the start of your visit. A good dentist will slow down, explain each step before it happens, and check in with you along the way.
Agree on a stop signal. Something as simple as raising your hand means you can pause the appointment any time you need a moment. Just knowing you have that control can make the whole visit feel less overwhelming.
Start small. If you’ve been away from the dentist for a while, you don’t have to jump straight into a big appointment. A simple check-up gives you a chance to get comfortable with the environment again without any pressure.
Bring headphones. Listening to music or a podcast can help block out the sounds that tend to trigger anxiety, like the drill or suction.
Try slow breathing before and during your visit. Breathing out for longer than you breathe in helps calm your body’s stress response. It sounds simple, but it genuinely helps many people settle in the chair.
Ask about your options. Some clinics offer additional support for more severe dental anxiety, including different types of sedation for people who need it. This isn’t the right fit for everyone, and your dentist can talk you through whether it’s suitable for you and what it involves.
What a Supportive Dental Visit Looks Like
An ideal visit for someone suffering from anxiety begins even before sitting in the chair. In this case, it means a team that is attentive to your concerns, does not hurry, and is ready to answer your questions regarding what is about to happen and why. It means that your individual pace is considered and accepted if you need additional pauses, need to be told what is going on at each step, or just need additional time for preparing before the procedure.
It is important to remember that every person’s experience of anxiety can be completely different, and while some things can work for one, they cannot affect another. The point is not to pretend that you do not suffer from this kind of stress. It is about finding a way to receive necessary services without making it torture for you.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is important to note that dental phobia is a real problem that exists in the lives of many people, and there are different causes behind it. However, there are different methods to handle it and help make the visits more pleasant. A good team will always be willing to listen and adjust to the situation.
If you have not been to the dentist for a long time because of your fear, it might be a good idea to visit just for a simple examination. The team at Brighton from Lifestyle Smiles will gladly help you to deal with this problem.
