How to ease dental phobia and needle fears
Being nervous or afraid to visit the dentist is very common – in fact, it’s so common there’s a name for it: dentophobia. This type of phobia can range from mild to severe, and can cause shortness of breath, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, and other signs of anxiety, such as shaking or a sense of impending doom.
Causes of dental phobia and how to help your patients
Up to eight percent of Americans avoid seeing the dentist because of anxiety and fear. Although not all of those cases would be classified as dental phobia, a fear of the dentist is a very common issue that can lead to some very serious oral health problems. Let’s examine some of the causes of dental phobia, and what you can do to help your patients address it.
