Many people have anxiety about visiting the dentist. Most can manage their anxiety, but some have such a severe fear that it precludes them from seeking dental care. As many as 9-15% of Americans avoid seeing the dentist due to anxiety and fear. That is nearly 40 million people!
There are many reasons people fear the dentist. Some people cite fear of pain as a reason to avoid dental care. Some are afraid of needles or injections. They may feel embarrassed at the condition of their teeth, or fear they will be judged for letting things “get so bad”. Others find the sound of the drill unsettling. Some can’t relax because they feel as though they have no control in the situation and therefore feel helpless. And, understandably, a past negative experience may deter a person from seeking treatment.
Clearly, this is a difficult cycle to break. Fear of pain, embarrassment, helplessness, etc. makes people put off seeing the dentist for routine care. This means they are missing out on the cleaning (prophylaxis) appointments. This, in turn, means they aren’t having their oral cancer screening, their routine x-rays to diagnose cavities or other abnormalities and they are not having their plaque or calculus removed. This puts them at a higher risk for developing gum disease (which has been linked to other systemic diseases as well), cavities and early tooth loss. And if the patient only seeks treatment when they are in pain, their anxiety often increases and the experience is less likely to be a positive one.
Throughout their dental careers, Dr. Soral and Dr. Zerbo have heard these explanations from patients and seen the consequences of avoidance and neglect. This has motivated them to build trusting relationships and create an environment at Distinctive Dentistry of Long Island that is calming and welcoming.
So how do you break the cycle? Find a dentist, like Dr. Soral or Dr. Zerbo, who are trained in handling patients with anxiety. Not only are they eager to listen and help you work through your fears, they can offer a variety of services to customize a plan that best suits your needs. At Distinctive Dentistry of Long Island, we encourage you to utilize our relaxation basket to help put you at ease. We offer necks pillows and blankets to make you comfortable. Stress balls are available as a stress relief tool. We also provide blockout glasses so you don’t have to see anything if you so choose. And, in case you don’t have your own music to listen to, we provide music and headphones to allow you to relax during your procedures.
If your anxiety is more severe, you can discuss the possibility of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), sedatives or I.V. sedation dentistry.
Distinctive Dentistry also provides you with same-day emergency services so you don’t have to become more anxious waiting for your appointment.
If you have seen another dentist and need peace of mind regarding proposed treatment, we are happy to offer a free second opinion.
Your oral health is our priority. Let Dr. Soral or Dr. Zerbo know what you need in order to accomplish your dental goals. The entire Distinctive Dentistry team is here to make you feel comfortable and at ease. We hope we can help you relax and enjoy your dental visits!
If you're ready to book your appointment, call us at (631) 473-3094