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Dental phobia is defined as the fear of dentists, and dental treatments/procedures in general. According to statistics, approximately 1-7% of the population in Western countries suffer from some kind of phobia – including being afraid of dentists. Dental phobia (defined as an unrealistic reaction to certain situations) can result from the following fears associated to dentists and dental treatments:

Fear of pain – It is normal to want to avoid experiencing pain, and dental phobia may stem from a previously uncomfortable dental treatment.

Fear of dentists – This fear may be the result of earlier encounters with dentists who seem uncaring or abrupt, enough for the patient to feel the need to avoid a similar negative experience.

Fear of needles – Those who are afraid of needles may avoid going to the dentist for treatments that they think will involve injections/needles.

Fear of the dental drill – The noise of the dental drill can be irritating especially to those who are already nervous patients. Some individuals also associate the drill with complicated (and painful) treatments.

Fear of being embarrassed – Dental fear can arise from embarrassment over the state of one’s teeth, and being judged for poor oral health.

Fear of the anesthetic – Fear of what could happen when under the anesthetic can make a person nervous about going to the dentist.

Fear of numbness – The unfamiliar feeling of being numb can make a patient even more nervous during a dental treatment.

Fear of the diagnosis – For some patients, it is better to deal with the unknown rather than to face a potentially complicated (and costly) dental treatment that comes after the diagnosis.

Do you have dental phobia? At Acorn Dental Care, we offer nervous patient care options to give you a more comfortable dental treatment. Our dedicated team of nurses and dentists are specially trained to deliver a number of sedation options so you can have positive dental treatment experience.

These options are:

• IV Sedation – The sedative is injected intravenously in a controlled manner, making you completely relaxed throughout the duration of the treatment.
• Inhalation Sedation – This is an alternative sedation option for those who dislike needles. The sedative, which is a mixture of nitrous oxide & oxygen, is administered through inhalation via a small mask placed over the nose and mouth. A deep sense of feeling calm and relaxed will be felt throughout the treatment, while keeping the patient awake the entire time.
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