For many individuals, visiting the dentist for treatment is a manageable experience. For some others, however, the mere thought of sitting in the dentist’s chair produces significant anxiety, causing them to delay or avoid going to the dentist. Without regular dental check-ups, cleanings, and necessary services, a person’s dental anxiety can translate into a harmful spiral of dental and health problems, worsening of anxiety, and more intensive dental procedures.
Our dentist in Gainesville at Comprehensive Dental Care prioritizes the comfort and needs of our patients, taking every step necessary to ensure they feel comfortable from the moment they step into our office and during each step of treatment. We offer a comprehensive range of dental services, including dental sedation, to keep your oral health and your confidence high. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
What Is Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety is defined as the fear, stress, anxiety, or worry some patients feel associated with dental settings, dental procedures, or dentistry professionals. Having anxiety about visiting the dentist can cause patients to delay or avoid dental treatment. Triggers of dental anxiety may include needles, drills, dental tools, or the dental setting in general. In certain cases where dental anxiety becomes so severe and results in physical manifestations, such as avoiding going to the dentist or extreme distress, it may be called a dental phobia. Patients with certain mental health conditions, such as generalized anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and those with a previous history of head or neck trauma may have an increased risk of developing dental anxiety.
Dental Anxiety Symptoms
Signs and dental anxiety symptoms can vary from patient to patient. In general, however, patients with dental anxiety may experience the following.
- Sweating
- A racing heartbeat or heart palpitations
- Low blood pressure
- Fainting
- Visible distress
- Signs of panic
- Crying
- Withdrawal
- Missing or avoiding dental care
How Our Dentists Calm Dental Anxiety
Here at Comprehensive Dental Care, we love our patients, and we love those who experience dental anxiety. While it’s unfortunate that so many people have had negative experiences with dentistry in the past, our Gainesville dental team is committed to prioritizing smart dental anxiety management strategies to help our patients feel comfortable and confident throughout each step of their appointment.
Our dentistry team helps reduce patients’ dental anxieties using the latest technology, materials, and science by prioritizing patient comfort, using patient-conscious scheduling, and maintaining open communication throughout every procedure. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment today!
The Latest Advancements In Dentistry
Modern dentistry offers a wealth of options for treatment and significantly improved comfort to patients than procedures of years past. The technology is more advanced, the materials are improved, and the science is more complete, which translates into a higher degree of comfort and reduced anxiety for patients.
Prioritizing Our Patients’ Comfort
No matter the condition of your dental health, our dentistry team is committed to prioritizing your comfort. From the moment patients enter our office, they are assured that they’ve made a brave decision to prioritize their oral health and that their comfort and health will only improve from there. Your comfort is our priority!
Patient-Conscious Scheduling
At Comprehensive Dental Care, we know that a common aspect of dental anxiety in patients involves the idea of rushing through the procedure. Unlike many other dental offices, we build sufficient time into our schedules for each patient appointment, so no procedure is ever rushed. If patients require anesthesia, we take time to ensure they are fully numb before we start the procedure.
Open Dentist-Patient Communication
For patients with dental anxiety and those without, we believe that open communication between our dentist and dental team and the patient is critical to a positive, comfortable dental experience. We have a rule that if a patient raises their hand during a procedure, we stop what we are doing and ensure they are okay before proceeding, so patients retain control over their experience.