Anxiety Reduction

Dental Anxiety and Phobias

Some people can develop a very uncomfortable sense of apprehension and anxiety regarding visits to dentists.  In about two out of every hundred people this anxiety can be so severe that it becomes a phobia, where they avoid dentists and dental procedures completely, often with negative consequences to their dental health. More commonly, these individuals do not avoid dentists but endure the experience with a significant degree of anxiety or fearfulness, making a visit to the dentist difficult or uncomfortable. Such individuals may have a lot of anticipatory anxiety knowing a visit is scheduled or needed and also experience anxiety during the visit itself. This anxiety may involve physical sensations such as a racing heart, breathing difficulty, or nervous stomach, as well as fearful thoughts such as “This will involve terrible pain,” “I will not be able to cope,” or “I will lose control. “

Causes of Dental Anxiety   

There are many reasons why individuals might have become anxious regarding a visit to a dentist in the first place, such as a previous “bad” experience, false information, or general personality (always being a worrier, for example); but anxious thinking (which often involves predicting the worst) will certainly keep this problem from getting better. 

Overcoming Dental Anxiety

The good news is that dental anxiety can be successfully overcome by some simple steps, often involving the provision of accurate information to patients, a very gradual introduction to procedures and instruments at a pace the patient can tolerate, teaching anxiety reduction skills such as relaxation and controlled breathing (please see the complimentary audio files below), and changing thinking patterns so that they are more helpful and adaptive.

Help is available

If you are avoiding or dreading a visit to the dentist, be assured that the team at Zöe Dental, are both familiar with and equipped to help you with these issues.                           
 In addition, if more intensive help is required, your Dr. Stamatiades can set up brief counseling for you using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, a treatment which has been shown to be effective in reducing dental anxiety. You may learn more about cognitive-behavioral therapy for dental anxiety and phobias on the web at www.BehaviorTherapist.com

Dr. Stamatiades and the Zöe Dental team members will be glad to discuss these options with you if you let them know your concerns.  No need to be embarrassed; it is a commonly experienced difficulty. Just ask.  

Audio Files to Aid in Anxiety Reduction

Overview of basic skills to overcome dental anxiety
Rational for dental anxiety skill set
How to breathe from your diaphragm
Actual breathing / relaxation skills