Are you apprehensive about going to the dentist? Well, you’re not alone. A survey by the British Dental Health Foundation found that it is estimated 9-15% of Americans avoid seeing the dentist because of fear and anxiety.
People who fear going to the dentist have a higher risk of gum disease and early tooth loss. This can cause damage or discolored teeth and in turn make people feel self-conscious and insecure.
Causes of Dental Anxiety and Phobia
-Past Painful Experiences
-Loss of Control
-Embarrassment
Symptoms
-Becoming tense or having trouble sleeping the night before a dental exam.
-Becoming increasingly nervous while you’re in the waiting room.
-Crying when you think of going to the dentist.
-Becoming physically ill at the thought of a dental visit.
-Panic or troubled breathing when objects are placed in your mouth during a dental appointment.
If you are someone that suffers from fear of the dentist please tell us about your feelings, concerns, and fears. At Nicollet Station Dental we have TV’s in the rooms to help distract patients and to make time fly by, we offer the use of nitrous gas to calm anxiety and for extreme cases the option to prescribe valium.