Dental anxiety is the fear, worry, or tension of a dental environment. Fear of the dentist might cause people to put off or forego dental care. Dental anxiety can be brought on by many things, including drills, needles, or the dental office environment in general. The term “dental phobia” is used to describe extreme cases of dental anxiety that result in irrational dread and avoidance of visiting the dentist.
Dental anxiety is the fear, worry, or tension of a dental environment. Fear of the dentist might cause people to put off or forego dental care. Dental anxiety can be brought on by many things, including drills, needles, or the dental office environment in general. The term “dental phobia” is used to describe extreme cases of dental anxiety that result in irrational dread and avoidance of visiting the dentist. Dental anxiety may be more likely to develop in some mental health problems, such as generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or a history of head and neck trauma. Dental anxiety may also be more likely to develop in people with psychotic illnesses, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
What are dental anxiety symptoms and signs?
Anxious dental patients could go through:
· Sweating
· heart palpitations or a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
· hypotension and potential fainting (syncope)
· apparent discomfort, sobbing, or panicky behaviors
· withdrawal, humor, or anger to cover up anxiety.
Some anxious individuals may regularly skip or avoid dental appointments and may find it challenging to receive dental treatment, whether it is straightforward or complicated.
How can dental anxiety impact your oral health?
Avoiding the dentist might worsen the dental condition, necessitate emergency care, or require more complicated treatment. Additionally, it can exacerbate the underlying issue of dental anxiety. The “vicious cycle of dental anxiety” refers to this situation.Regular dental checkups, cleanings, and X-rays of the teeth can prevent dental disease and assist the dentist in identifying any issues early on, resulting in the need for less complicated and invasive treatments. In addition to performing routine examinations, dentists also look for oral cancer symptoms. This is crucial for anyone who smokes, consumes alcohol frequently, or does both. Consult a dentist as soon as possible if you find a mouth ulcer that persists for more than two weeks.
The majority of dental diseases are avoidable and connected to lifestyle. If you postpone the visit to your dentist, you may need more difficult procedures because of your avoidance, but you will also miss out on learning how to better care for your oral health. Dental disease is caused by lifestyle variables that are remarkably similar to those that cause diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer. These harmful traits include regularly consuming sugary food and drinks, smoking, and frequently drinking alcohol. Therefore, it’s crucial to take care of your dental and general health and brush your teeth twice daily and floss once daily.
What are the causes of dental anxiety?
Dental anxiety may result from:
· a terrible dentist visit or another type of medical incident
· prior head and neck injuries
· other stressful events, such as abuse
· depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or generalized anxiety
· the belief that entering the mouth constitutes a violation of personal space
· concerns about losing control
· trust issues
· anxiety linked to other disorders such as agoraphobia, which is the fear of being in settings from which you feel you cannot escape, or claustrophobia, which is the fear of enclosed spaces.
Who might be affected by dental anxiety?
Anyone of any age can have dental anxiety. In most situations, children who have had unpleasant dental experiences can get over their fear if the matter is handled properly and they are supported and cared for during subsequent dental visits. Adults who experience dental anxiety frequently have this anxiety for the rest of their lives. Many fearful dental patients are fortunate to find a dentist who understands their predicament, making it easier for them to deal with going to the dentist.
How to control dental anxiety?
People can manage their dental anxiety or phobia in a variety of ways. If you feel any level of dental anxiety, it’s crucial to let the dentist know. The dentist can work with you to create a treatment plan for your anxiety by having an open discussion about the specific triggers that affect you.
Here are some psychological coping mechanisms to deal with dental anxiety:
· deep inhalation
· meditation
· distraction (such as listening to music or using your mobile phone)
· guided imagery
· muscle relaxation
· deciding on a cue with your dentist on when to pause the treatment for a break (such as raising your left hand)
· weighted blanket use
hypnosis
Visiting a psychologist may also be beneficial. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one example of a short, focused therapy that can be quite effective. The use of relative analgesia (happy gas), anxiety medications, conscious sedation (twilight sedation), or general anesthesia may be necessary for the medical management of severe dental anxiety or phobia.
Relative analgesia (happy gas)
Nitrous oxide, also referred to as happy gas or laughing gas, helps put patients at ease during dental procedures. You wear a mask on your face and breathe a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen. It starts working in a short while and wears off soon. Even though you’ll be calm, you’ll still be awake. You might not recall everything after the appointment is over, even if you speak with the dentist and listen to what they say during the visit. The feeling of relaxation brought on by nitrous oxide sedation is usually very pleasant. Sometimes people don’t like the feeling it produces, in which case alternative solutions can be considered.
Anti-anxiety drugs (oral anxiolytic tablets)
Sometimes, dentists will prescribe oral anxiety-relieving (anxiolytic) drugs, such as temazepam, to help anxious individuals relax. A modest, single dose with a short half-life is typically given one hour before the dentist session. Only after having a conversation with your dentist or doctor should you take medication. You will require transportation to and from the dental appointment as you cannot drive while under the influence of a sedative. Needless to say that dental treatment aftercare plays a vital role in treatment procedures.
Sedation with awareness
In order to achieve this level of sedation, a drip is inserted into a vein in the arm. A dentist with advanced training in sedation or an anesthetist can administer intravenous (IV) sedation. It can be done in a hospital or a dentist’s office using specialized equipment. You may nod off into a light sleep while receiving IV sedation, also referred to as “twilight sedation,” but you are awake and responsive to spoken commands. After the surgery, sleepiness and nausea are potential side effects. After receiving IV sedation, you shouldn’t drive yourself home.
Not all dentists provide sedation dentistry. The sort of sedation you can receive or your ability to receive IV sedation may be affected by certain pre-existing medical problems or drugs. For more details, consult your dentist.
General anesthesia
For some people, a general anesthetic may be a viable option, but keep in mind that it won’t help you develop coping mechanisms for anxiety or become accustomed to visiting the dentist.
Both a pre-operative (before treatment) and postoperative (after treatment) visit to the dentist are necessary. Before administering the general anesthetic, the anesthetist will also need to evaluate you. After a general anesthetic, you cannot drive yourself home.
The dentist and an anesthetist perform the procedure in a hospital setting, giving the patient a general anesthetic. Patients who receive general anesthesia are “completely asleep.” Among the potential negative effects are nausea and a lengthier recovery period compared to other sedatives.
Some dental procedures are best performed over the course of several visits. This implies that your treatment options may be more constrained if you wish to have all your dental work done under general anesthesia. In certain instances, getting some dental work done in the chair at a different visit before the general anesthetic will assist get the mouth ready for the work that will be done and help make the most of the general anesthetic session.
When combined with other techniques, general anesthesia performs best, enabling some treatments to be performed without it. In this manner, the time allotted for the general anesthesia session is saved for the procedures that are the most challenging to endure.
Summary
It’s common to experience dental anxiety, but there are ways to cope with it. Since dental phobia is less frequent, your dentist may need to handle it in conjunction with your doctor and other medical specialists. There are methods for coping if worry keeps you from visiting the dentist. What solutions are best for you should be discussed with your dentist. You might need to talk to a psychologist or counselor to deal with your anxiety.