What are Dental Anxiety and Dental Phobia?

Being afraid of the dentist is more common than people assume. Around 80% of Americans claim they have dental anxiety and five to ten percent of Americans have dental phobia also known as odontophobia. Furthermore, dental anxiety is common as visiting the dentist can be daunting to some.

Is it Avoidable?

However, with some mental preparation before a patients visit and having a dentist who is calming and personal can improve the experience. Ashburn Dental Care has had patients who came in their first time worried about how they will be treated, but they are now lifelong patients and have overcome their fear.

What are the causes of Dental Anxiety?

Everyone is different, and people all react to similar stimuli in different manners. However, there are underlying themes and causes that people tend to be affected by.

• Embarrassment of poor dental hygiene
• Subpar past experiences
• A fear of pain
• Fear of dental instruments i.e. needles, drills, anesthesia, etc.
• COVID-19 safety

Addressing the Issue

Dr. Rizvi and the staff take into account the physical and mental wellbeing of each individual patient. If a patient seems to be uncomfortable in the chair Dr. Rizvi will ensure to explain every step in what he is doing to the patient. This transparency and efficable communication ensures the patient is clear that whatever is happening in their mouth is in their best interest. At Ashburn Dental Care, the staff understands it is hard for a patient to feel at ease when they cannot see what is going on in their mouth, this is why clear communication is a priority for us.

To accommodate for dental anxiety, patients have the option for anesthesia and/or laughing gas. This will ease the pain for the patient and ensure that the patient is comfortable throughout the procedure. In addition to these measures, Dr, Rizvi also seeks to comfort the patient through friendship and conversation. Give him a chat and find out for yourself!