Are You Afraid of the Dentist?

One of the primary reasons that people do not go to the dentist is dental anxiety. Estimates vary, but somewhere between 10-15% of the American population, or 30 - 40 million people, avoid much needed care due to anxiety and fear surrounding the dental experience.

Whether this stems from a previous bad experience, the media, or friends who have told them horror stories, the result is that they neglect to maintain their dental health by avoiding visits to the dentist, and in turn create more problems.

As we discussed last time, the key factor for good oral hygiene is prevention - stopping problems before they arise. Unfortunately, phobic patients who suffer from severe anxiety do not visit the dentist for regular care. This results in more complex problems which require more invasive solutions, which in turn creates more fear and anxiety.

A recent study in the British Dental Journal has found that despite the advancement of modern techniques and the use of very effective anesthetics, patients still seem to maintain the same level of anxiety as they did years ago. The proportion was shown to be the same today as it was in the 1930’s.

Are you avoiding dental treatment because of fear? If so, the first thing you need to know is that you are in good company and there is nothing wrong with you. Next time I will discuss what positive things can be done to reduce your dental anxiety and allow you to get the treatment you need and want.

Yours for excellent dental health,
Dr S

Women's Health Fair

Earlier this fall Stafford Smiles participated in one of Clackamas County's yearly staples, the Providence Women's Health Fair. This event is anticipated by many. We loved seeing mothers and daughters of various ages participating and enjoying the day together.

Each year speakers come and teach about a variety of topics at a luncheon and in classes throughout the day. We participated as a vendor, specifically offering free screening for sleep apnea for the participants and/or their loved ones who may suffer the symptoms.

Those who attended will remember our "straw test". We asked them to breathe through a straw effectively demonstrating how little someone with sleep apnea actually breathes when the airway is restricted at night during.

Congratulations to our raffle winner of a free sedation dental appointment!

Conquering Dental Anxiety

Last time I discussed the prevalence of dental phobia and reassured you that if you have dental anxiety you are not alone. I pointed out that avoiding the dentist just leads to greater problems and more anxiety. So what is a more productive way to deal with your fear of the dentist?

1. Don’t wait till it hurts. Deal with the problem before you have acute pain. You need to take it slow and when you have severe pain, that’s not possible.

2. Find a dental office that understands your situation. It takes a lot of courage to pick up the phone and call a dentist so don’t give up at this point just because the first person you called was impatient with you.

3. Schedule a get acquainted visit. Many offices will do this free of charge. Find out if there is a non-clinical area to talk with the dentist and the staff to see if it is a good fit.

4. Make sure that the doctor offers different kinds of sedation. Oregon requires an additional endorsement on the dental license specific to the type of sedation offered.

5. Discuss your fears with the dentist and staff and work out a plan to get back into optimum dental health at a rate you are comfortable with.
Dentistry is different than it was 10 years ago. And you will be surprised at how well you can overcome your fear by taking it slowly before you have pain and using modern methods of sedation.

Yours for excellent dental health,
Dr. S