Whether you call it a fear, a phobia, or anxiety, dreading visits to the dentist can cause patients a number of problems – both in the short and long term. Besides the gradual and unavoidable accumulation of plaque and tartar can be removed only in the best dental hospital in Delhi, the patients who avoid the dentist put themselves to the increasing risk of developing a number of oral health issues (ranging from cavities and gum disease to tooth decay and eventual tooth loss). In addition, patients lose the ability to pro-actively take control of their dental health and are far less likely to gauge the dangers of developing health issues (like oral cancer, for instance) than a dental professional.

Why do people fear the dentist?

So what causes the kind of extreme fear that keeps people away from the dentist? And more importantly, what can patients do to overcome their fear? Based on certain observations, we bring you the common reasons for which patients avoid the dentist. Here are some of the most common reasons for which patients want to stay away from the dentist:

1. Bad experiences in the past- If a patient had a terrible or traumatic experience at the dentist in the past; it’s not particularly surprising that they would want to avoid any chance of history repeating itself.

2. Shame or embarrassment- In some cases, a patient’s fear may have morphed into shame over the state of their teeth after years of avoiding the dentist. At this point, the patient who had been avoiding the required session with the best dentist in Delhi becomes dissatisfied with the current state of his/her oral hygiene and are too embarrassed to meet with their dentist.

3. Strong dislike to pain and discomfort- Depending on a patient’s background, they may have been through a number of painful or uncomfortable dental procedures and want to avoid having to sit through them again. Even a routine cleaning can trigger those same feelings of anxiety a patient has experienced in the past.

How can you overcome fear?

Talk to your dentist

Set up an appointment with your dentist and make sure they know that it’s purely to discuss the possibility of treatment. This way, you can go through the motions of booking the appointment and showing up to the dental office without actually having to sit through an appointment you’re not ready for yet. Talk to your dentist about your fear and listen to what they have to say. Most dental practices offer specialized services (like laughing gas) to help a patient stay as relaxed as possible during their appointment. The top dental hospital in Delhi offers a number of anti-anxiety options ranging from laughing gas to lavender scented neck pillows. Dental work can even be performed when you’re asleep if that’s an option that you choose to have. In reality booking and following through on an appointment will be much less anxiety-inducing if you’ve had a chance to speak with your dentist one-on-one and know that they understand where you’re coming from and what your needs are.