| Dental fear is the term often used to describe the | | | | the procedure and awaken pain-free. |
| feeling that overcomes many of us when its time to | | | | However, many dental patients say that the fear of |
| visit the dentist. This fear is strong enough to keep | | | | feeling guilty is just as bad as the fear of pain. Dental |
| people from postponing the care they need for | | | | staffs often lecture errant patients about the lack of |
| years. There are two main reasons that people fear | | | | care their teeth are receiving and the ensuing |
| the dentist: | | | | humiliation is often coupled with the guilt that the |
| Fear of pain | | | | patient already feels for neglecting their teeth. |
| Fear of feeling guilty for postponing the visit for so | | | | Many people harbor personal guilt and fears before |
| long | | | | they ever walk into the dentist's office: |
| The fear of pain is the most obvious and most | | | | Guilt for not taking better care of their teeth |
| common reason that people put off visiting the | | | | Guilt for being irresponsible |
| dentist. Even the most routine procedures can be | | | | Embarrassment at the thought of a dentist looking at |
| painful although often the fear of pain is worse than | | | | their teeth |
| the actual pain. | | | | Fear of a dentist's lecture on the importance of |
| Many patients still harbor nightmares regarding painful | | | | dental care |
| visits to the dentist as a child. Not that long ago, | | | | Fear that the dentist will tell them that its too late |
| dentistry involved the pulling and drilling of teeth with | | | | These fears and emotions keep patients from |
| the most barbaric looking tools. | | | | seeking dental care. Many people fear the public |
| Dentist attitudes were also less than sympathetic in | | | | humiliation that can come from a long postponed |
| the past. Patients often heard the phrases, "This will | | | | dental visit where a dental staff may lecture them on |
| only hurt a little," "I'm almost finished, you can hang | | | | their irresponsible care and poor hygiene. For these |
| on" and "It's not that bad." Injections were painful | | | | people, the fear is in itself enough to keep them |
| and arduous, as the dentist searched for the right | | | | from seeking treatment even when they are in pain. |
| spot with a long sharp needle. Patients were giving a | | | | Don't let these fears keep you from seeking the |
| minimal amount of pain medication and often sent | | | | dental treatment you need. Today's dentists are |
| home with little more than an aspirin following dental | | | | aware of the guilt that people feel when they |
| surgery. | | | | neglect their oral care and are experienced at making |
| Fortunately, times have changed. Dental tools are | | | | a trip to the dentist pleasant and guilt-free. Avoiding |
| now designed to be less invasive and particularly | | | | the dentist will only make the problem worse; dental |
| noise-free. Many dentists use the latest techniques, | | | | staffs are trained in providing confidential and |
| many which now use lasers instead of drills and | | | | pain-free care in environments which foster |
| injection-free pain relief. Most dentists offer special | | | | understanding and guilt-free communication between |
| techniques for frightened patient including sedation | | | | patient and staff. |
| dentistry which allows the patient to sleep through | | | | |