For as many jokes as there are about the dentist, it’s really not a scary place! The fear that is present in our minds even before we enter the office has no reason to be there! Modern medicine ensures that treatments are generally painless, so what else is there to worry about? In this article we’ll talk about the top reasons why people try to avoid the dentist…and why you shouldn’t.
The first thing that is known to cause fear of the dentist is the cost. Treatment plans and procedures can have a high price tag, especially if you don’t have dental insurance. However, as John Dodes, DDS, states, “The truth is that if you take good care of your teeth and mouth, yearly dental visits won’t cost a ton of money.” Preventative care is key with oral health, and taking good care of your teeth by taking the time for dental visits can save you a huge bill or even a hospital visit in the future. Poor dental health can have repercussions on the rest of your body, especially your heart. When looking at the big picture, it’s easy to see that caring for our teeth is just as important as caring for the rest of our bodies.
The next two things that cause people to shy away from the dentist are dental anxiety and the fear of having to undergo procedures. It was found that many patients are just naturally afraid of the dentist, or the office, or both, but also that they don’t want to hear about the bad news after the cleaning. In order to conqueror these fear, dentist suggests playing music during your treatment, and communicating with your individual dentist to create the overall best environment for you. With sedation dentistry, among other options, there is no reason to be uncomfortable in the dentist’s chair.
Next there is the fear of instruments and also bad memories haunting us! As children we may have had a negative experience that resonates in our mind, and it’s perfectly reasonable to think dental instruments look scary…but they aren’t! With new technological advancements, dentist now use safer and less nosy instruments to reduce this fear and now most offices offer “music and TV” to distract from the fact that you are in the dentist and help to “erase old memories.”
The final two reasons consist of being “too busy, lazy, and also the fear of getting lectured.” We sit there for a procedure and then are kindly approached at ways to change our habits, but if you keep your dental health up, the lecturing will be less and less! Also we must make time to visit the dentist in order to prevent going twice as many times in the future. Take the necessary steps now to set yourself up for a happy and healthy smile for years to come!
