Philadelphia Sedation Dentist: Getting to the Root of Dental Anxiety

A lot of people in cities like Philadelphia typically experience dental anxiety or fear. This is why a reputable Philadelphia sedation dentist works to find a way to keep his clients relaxed and comfortable throughout the process. To better understand the roots of your fears, here are the common types of dental anxiety based on causation:

Control Issues

Some people like to feel that they’re in control, especially in situations that involve pain or discomfort, so the longer they remain in the dentist’s chair, the more anxious they feel. This can also stem from certain situations in the past where they have been subjected to a complete lack of control over a situation, and they may associate the dental appointment to these memories.

Media Influence

While unbeknownst to many, the media can influence the mind in a lot of ways, one of which is setting the stage for fears to develop. For instance, some people might not be afraid of a certain object or animal until a scary movie or television show convinces them otherwise. Unfortunately, the negative portrayal of dental operations in the media has this very effect.

Mistrust

Many people have a general mistrust of medicine, technology, or even dentistry itself, and it is this base assumption which fuels their dental fears and anxiety. Researchers have even linked that this mistrust could be a cultural factor, since it is mostly apparent in minority groups who, in themselves or through their ancestry might have experienced poor or minimal exposure to medical and dental treatment.

Consequences

Some people might not even fear dentistry itself, but its consequences, as an article in Dentistry Today states that:

These individuals fear that some catastrophic event will occur at or as a result of their dental appointment. In some instances the fear may be rational. An older patient who takes a morning diuretic and also has bladder control problems may fear that a long, late morning appointment could develop into an accident. Far more frequently, however, the patient’s catastrophic-fear concerns are irrational. A case in point would be the patient who has previously experienced a transient tachycarida [sic] due to a response from an anesthetic vasoconstrictor. Now the patient fears that administration will lead to a fatal heart attack and that the dentist would be incompetent to address the problem.

Whichever may be the case for you, the fact remains that people today can rest easy (both literally and figuratively) in the dentist’s chair, thanks to innovations like sleep dentistry in Philadelphia and in other places. Dental practices like Wynnewood Dental Arts see to it that even the most fearful patient goes through his dental appointment without the fear and fuss.