Dental phobia is a common condition, which occurs when an individual has an irrational fear of going to the dentist. Dental anxiety, which is a slightly less serious condition, is extremely common and statistics show that more than half of people experience anxiety when waiting to see a dentist or sitting in the dentist’s chair.

Why are people scared of the dentist?

There are many possible reasons why people may have dental phobia or dental anxiety, with one common reason relating to negative experiences in the past. Some people who have had a bad experience at the dentist in the past will always associate going to the dentist with negative thoughts and for this reason, they may feel very worried and scared when visiting a dental surgery. A fear of pain and worries about injections and needles are also common causes and some people feel anxious at the mere thought of having a needle in their mouth, or will instantly feel uncomfortable if they hear the dentist’s drill.

For some people, dental phobia is associated with being worried about the outcome of the appointment, which is especially common in people who haven’t been to see a dentist for a long time, due to their worries concerning problems that may have arisen, during the long time spent avoiding the dentist.

How can I find a dentist with expertise in dental phobia?

Dental phobia is very common and dentists are becoming increasingly aware of the condition and as a result of this, more and more dentists are offering services for people who suffer from dental phobia. Dentists have training in dealing with nervous patients and many of them have added services, such as sedation, Waterlase therapy and even hypnotherapy, to help make patients feel more relaxed. Most practices are also now decked out with the latest technology and equipment, including stereo systems and DVD players, to distract patients and make their experience at the surgery a pleasant one.

If you want to find a dentist with services for people with dental phobia you can use an online search engine to look for practices in your area. It is also a good idea to ask your friends and family members for recommendations. Once you have found a likely practice telephone them and tell them that you are anxious and ask what kinds of services are available to people with dental anxiety or dental phobia.