Too Many in U.S. Fear and Avoid Dentists

Fear of dentists seems to be universal. We all know people who are afraid to go see a dentist. Some people may have been traumatized while in a dentist’s chair earlier in life, some may have unknowingly developed their fear from the adults around them, or maybe they are just afraid.

No matter the reason, although they may be afraid and delay trips to the dentist, they most likely end up going to have the necessary procedures done. However, there are many who are so afraid that they never go to the dentist, despite the condition of their teeth and this is a serious issue that has to be addressed.

Dental care is more than cosmetic and it’s more than just fixing a broken tooth or putting in a filling. Dentists are trained to look for signs of oral cancers and they often can tell the health of a patient by the health of their teeth and comes. There have also been connections between certain oral problems and overall health and infections – so regular dental visits are an important part of overall health care.

According to this article, Dental Phobia May Keep Up To 25 Percent Of American Adults From Getting Any Dental Care. Sedation Dentistry Offers Hope, almost 80% of Americans are afraid of the dentist, and

it is estimated that one in seven Americans never get any dental treatment at all because of dental phobia.

Help to get over such phobias is available in many ways. Some people manage well using hypnosis, others use some sort of cognitive behavior, but for many, the only solution is to “knock them out” to have the procedure done, so they have no idea what is going on. Anesthetic has its risks though and must be done in specialized environments. So, the next option, which is less expensive and more available is called sedation dentistry. It’s already often practiced with certain types of dental procedures, such as wisdom teeth removal, so it’s a known and viable option for many.

Sedation can be by oral medications (pills) or intravenous (IVs). While pills are convenient and likely less costly than IVs, the variability of how people react to them and how long they last can make it difficult for the dentist. Intravenous medications, however, can be well adjusted according to time and patient, and it can be reversed quickly in case of emergency. Another benefit to IV sedation is the patient and dentist may decide how much sedation is needed: just enough to take the edge off or enough to have the patient in a sound sleep while the dental team does its work.

If you or someone you know is so frightened of going to the dentist that it has become an issue, check to see which dentists offer the sedation options. While dental care may never be a joy, the sedation can make it more bearable.

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