Dental Anxiety Explained - A Multi-Part Series
What keeps people from seeing a dentist? Fear? Anxiety? Why are we afraid of dental care?
As dentists we are met with the good ole “I hate the dentist” probably 20 times a day. Well, what is it? Why do so many people “hate” us? Am I paying for the sins of my forefathers…or is there something more? Let’s chat.
BOO! Sometimes I feel like I am in a perpetual state of halloween - patients often say “I am scared of the dentist” or “I hate the dentist”. I get it…the unknown is scary and as a matter of fact healthcare in general can be scary, but why do dentists seem to get the brunt of the hate?
Where Does The Fear Come From?
Fear is a rather strange emotion - driven mostly by an event that hasn't occurred and based on the anticipation of a negative event. So it makes sense that patients who are say 50-100 years old perceive the dentist as a place of pain, negativity, and despair. This patient population lived through a time where dentistry was the opposite of painless. So, I totally get it. But, we are now in an age of mostly pain free dentistry.
Why Does This Fog Of Trepidation Still Linger?
Honestly, I do think a lot of people in their teens, 20’s, and 30’s deal with fear of dentists due to a projection from their parents. I do “happy visits” (which I LOVE) all the time for children to become accustomed to seeing a dentist. These kiddos are usually anywhere from one to 3 years old. I often find the verbiage parents use sets the stage for fear.
For example I hear, “I know it is scary but you are being so brave” or “The dentist is scary, but you will get a prize at the end” and even the good ole “I am scared too but look at mommy sitting in the chair”. This type of rhetoric sets the stage for children to be afraid of dentists.
Encouragement And Engagement Creates Excitement
A better approach for parents is to present the situation as a positive experience by using encouragement, engagement, and excitement. It is 100% possible to create a positive experience for a child at the dentist but it starts at home.
Fear Of Judgement
There is also a fear of being judged. People worry about being judged for not taking care of their teeth, so they avoid seeking care in an attempt to push off the pending emotions of dealing with an oral condition.
This breaks my heart. </3
As dentists, we are advocates for oral health and want nothing more than for you to be comfortable with your smile. The trope of dentists being these domineering overarching pessimistic figures needs to die with the consumption of tide pods (remember that? What an insane time).
The Problem Is Twofold
So…yeah… I do think there is a multifactorial problem at play: we have an aging population of dentists from the era of “painful” dentistry AND we have a patient population raised by parents of this generation of dentists.
Now… don’t get me wrong, there are good dentists and bad dentists everywhere and in every generation.
Dentists typically love continuing education and adapt to the times. But, we are still dealing with the painful sins of the past. Technology, science, and patient care have improved dramatically. So it is time to pull up the good ole boot straps and tackle this head on.
Okay So As Millennial Dentists - What Are Some Things We Do Differently?
One way I think patients feel more comfortable with their initial visit is to visit the office prior and have a tour. Get to know your new dental home. Walk around. Have a cup of coffee. Meet some of the staff.
I say this all the time, but once you are able to realize there are people behind the title who have a story…who want to engage and care for you…that first appointment is so much easier to schedule.
Additionally, I encourage a televisit appointment 2 days prior to your actual in office appointment. During this 30 minute appointment you speak with a member of the front office team who walks you through your new patient paperwork, you meet the dentist, and you go over your insurance plan with our specialists. This is all from the comfort of your home and hopefully places your mind at ease.
After the initial in office visit, if you need treatment, there are many options to improve your comfort. We offer things from noise canceling headphones to laughing gas. Our mission in this new age of dentistry is to make sure you enjoy your experience and are able to achieve and maintain the smile of your dreams.
Conclusion
I promise if you step into my or Dr. Croft's offices you will be met with nothing but positivity and kindness. We want you to be the happiest and healthiest version of you, but we also want to get to know you personally. Dentistry is about relationships and trust - and we both value that so much.
We need to breakdown the dental fear stigma. Unfortunately, this generational curse starts at home. Children need to know the dentist is not scary and their parent's fear of the dentist doesn't have to be their fear.
Encouragement and engagement are two key elements in creating an enjoyable dental experience. It will take time to completely change the way people view dental care, but our generation can be the generation to do it.
As always feel free to reach out to us with any questions. But, please if there is something that is preventing you from seeing a dentist please message us….we (and our colleagues) would love to improve dentistry to better meet your needs!
