A Look at the Causes of Dental Anxiety

If you feel nervous just at the idea of visiting a dentist serving Glen Ellyn, it may be time to consider sedation dentistry. While very few dental procedures are painful or uncomfortable, many Americans feel anxiety simply at the idea of visiting a dentist. To alleviate your nervousness, a dentist who offers sedation can now calm you or even put you to sleep during a dental procedure. Keep reading to find out why the fear of pain, embarrassment, loss of control, or bad past experiences can make people anxious.

Fear of Pain

If you had most of your family dental care over 10 years ago, you may feel anxious about pain at the dentist. That is because modern dentistry includes many options for pain-free dental care that was not available previously. Many procedures, like tooth extractions, were formerly much more uncomfortable than they are today. Additionally, sedation dentistry is a newer development. Many adults were unable to calm their nerves as children and have retained those bad memories.

Fear of Embarrassment

The mouth is an intimate part of the body, and some people feel uncomfortable having a stranger look inside. While visiting the same family dentist for many years can alleviate much of that nervousness, most people move to new cities as adults. The embarrassment may be especially heightened if the patient is ashamed of missing teeth, receding gums, discolored teeth, or other dental issues. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry can now alleviate those conditions and significantly improve the appearance of teeth.

Loss of Control

Some people feel anxious about a visit to the dentist because they feel helpless in situations where they have little control. Many of these sufferers are equally anxious about airplanes and in enclosed spaces, despite knowing that their fear is irrational. To quell this fear, a dentist can explain the entire procedure to a patient ahead of time, so he or she knows what is happening every step of the way.