Dental fears are common, with about 20 different fears experienced most frequently. Heritage House Dental is familiar with all types of dental anxiety, and we have the tools and the techniques to put you at ease.The most common fears associated with dentistry are:
1. The Dentist
Individuals have a tendency to relate certain attributes to dentists based on personal experiences or those they hear about. Don’t believe these stereotypes. The dentists at Heritage House are gentle, caring professionals who want to keep you as comfortable as possible.
2. Sights, Sounds and Smells
The sight of a dental office and its tools, the sounds of equipment, and the smells of ointments can induce anxiety in some. Our bright, clean and friendly office was designed to put you at ease. Modern tools are much quieter, and some patients wear ipods with their own choice of music to help them relax.
3. Pain
Going to the dentist is often perceived as a painful experience due to needles, feeling the “drill” for a filling and active tooth infections.
4. Needles
Fears typically arise from needles experienced in a doctors office from immunizations.
For fears 3 and 4, please remember that modern dentistry has come a long way with many options available to relieve any discomfort you may feel.
5. Embarrassment
Clients can feel guilty, scared or ashamed of their teeth and are worried of what the dental staff may say.
6. Worst Teeth
Clients feel as though they have the worst teeth that the Dentist has ever seen and therefore feel they will be humiliated and judged for their appearance.
Fears 5 and 6 are similar. Our dental professionals know that every patient has a beautiful smile just waiting to come out. We are happy to see you take an interest in your dental health and would never judge you.
7. Losing Control
The thought of losing self control in the office can be a contributing factor to avoiding the dentist.
8. Gagging
Can occur from physiological or psychological factors or a physical expression of panic. Certain smells and tastes may also trigger a gag reflex.
9. Choking
Some individuals feel unable to swallow when their mouths are open. When this happens, saliva will begin to accumulate and overflow in the mouth, which may remind individuals of drowning. This is the most common psychological factor for the fear of choking.
10. Panic Attack
The result of a survival mechanism fight, flight or freeze response when one believes they are being faced with danger.
11. Abuse Survivor
Survivors of abuse can have a variety of fears ranging from laying down for treatment, or objects being placed into their mouth or around the face.
12. Feeling Numb
Some individuals are afraid of feeling numb. This fear is typically associated with feelings of loss of control, fear of suffocation, and panic attacks.
13. Being Awake
The fear of being awake and aware in the dental chair has become more common.
For fears 7 to 13, the anxiety can be severe and deeply rooted. Laughing gas sedation can alleviate your fears considerably and make the experience more comfortable and reassuring.
14. Cannot Get Numb
If a patient experienced discomfort in the past due to a tooth that was not fully numb, they may fear an repeat experience. We encourage you to speak up if you do not feel complete numbness before we begin your procedure.
15. Bad Reaction To Local Anesthetic
True allergies are exceedingly rare with the anesthetics used today. Most allergies are due to the preservatives in the anesthetic and not the drug itself. We make sure to take a detailed medical history to avoid any potential allergic reactions.
16. Extensive Treatment
Some clients have a fear of dental health diagnosis and what procedures are required in order to fix their dental problems. Our dentists can put your mind at ease with solutions that truly have your health in mind.
17. Unnecessary Treatment
Individuals who feel a tooth problem is small may be surprised at what is actually a drastic dental procedure or one with many treatment options. They may underestimate the necessity of the treatment. If you are unsure, we encourage you to seek a second opinion.
18. Cost
There are many individuals who are unable to seek dental treatment due to the cost. We have a number of payment options available; please don’t hesitate to ask.
19. Brushing Teeth
Some people find it difficult or even impossible to brush their teeth due to disliking the taste of toothpaste, gagging while brushing, or an actual fear of the act of brushing itself. We can teach you techniques to make brushing easier.
20. Special Needs
Some individuals feel as though dentists do not want to treat them due to their physical or learning disabilities. We deal with a variety of individuals of all capabilities each and every day, and will treat you with the respect you deserve.
At Heritage House Dental, we strive to make every visit a positive experience. We have experience in dealing with all types of dental anxiety and phobias and will do everything possible to alleviate your concerns. Our caring staff, calm environment and modern equipment has helped many patients realize that their concerns were unfounded. We are here to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Don’t let fear prevent you from having a beautiful, healthy smile.
they weren’t as thorough. After his treatment, they were more diligent at brushing his molars because the dental hygienist provided them with a gentle technique to decrease the likelihood of gagging.
and hopefully decide against them. Oral piercing is actually a practice strongly opposed by many advocates of oral health, including the Amercian Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). For more information, visit the ADA’s website at 
