Many children fear visits to the dentist, and most don’t have it as they grow up. But sometimes, even an adult can fear visits to the dentist. In many such cases, the person is likely to have dental anxiety or dental phobia. If you are wondering what they are and how dental anxiety is different from dental phobia, then read on.
Though many people use the terms dental anxiety and dental phobia interchangeably, they are completely different. The only thing common between these two is that they make people avoid the dental care they need.
What is Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety is a very common condition that can affect anyone. It is usually used to describe the feelings of fear, unease, or stress a person has to deal with before or during a visit to the dentist. Many factors can lead to dental anxiety. Sometimes, a person who fears needles has dental anxiety, as dentists often use needles. Sometimes, a person might feel the lack of control during a dental appointment makes them feel uneasy.
Fear of judgment is another common reason for dental anxiety. If you haven’t visited a dentist for a while and you think that your teeth, gums, and oral health care are in bad shape, you might fear that the staff at the dental clinic or your dentist will judge you or make fun of you or even get angry with you.
Signs of Dental Anxiety
The most common signs of dental anxiety include but are not limited to:
- Your heart beats a little faster as the dental appointment gets closer
- You sweat more than usual when you are going to visit a dentist
- In some cases, you might stress about the dental appointment too
- You feel extremely nervous like you are giving a test
In extreme cases, people with dental anxiety skip the dental visits or postpone them. But most people keep their appointments by calming themselves down.
What is Dental Phobia?
Dental phobia is usually more severe than dental anxiety. When a person has this condition, they feel completely overwhelmed and even terrified by the thought of having a dental appointment. Some people with this condition don’t visit a dentist until the situation gets extreme, like they are in terrible pain. Some people even don’t go to the dentist at all.
Signs of Dental Phobia
The most common signs of dental phobia are:
- You feel very nervous at the thought of a dental appointment
- You have trouble sleeping or eating before a dental visit
- Sometimes, you might feel physically sick before a dental appointment
- You might also feel overly emotional or even cry before the dental appointment
- You might have trouble breathing before a dental appointment
Getting Over Your Fear is the Essential- Trust Dr. Rudy Saldamando
If you have dental anxiety or dental phobia, talking about it with someone, your dentist, or even a therapist can help. It would help if you also chose an experienced dentist like Dr. Rudy Saldamando. He has practiced dentistry for 40 years. His Beverly Hills practice includes celebrities, CEOs, health care experts, and Heads Of State who travel thousands of miles for his personal care and treatment. As an officer in the Dental Corps of the United States Naval Reserve, he served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger in the war in Viet Nam.
He was trained in wound triage and directed on board Battle Dressing Stations. He earned three service medals and received commendation letters during his active wartime duties. He studied genetics and paleontology while earning his Biology degree at Loyola University and earned his Doctor Of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California. Before this, he studied philosophy, theology, Latin, and ancient Greek as a member of a religious order for two years. Dr. Rudy has studied in Scandinavia to learn firsthand from doctors skilled in the beginning development of dental implants.
He has done several health care missions in Gabon, West Africa, and has lectured at several international venues. He extensively uses his products with his patients in his practice, which emphasizes guiding patients to healthy oral care and management choices. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, the Los Angeles Dental Society, and one of the founding board members of the Los Angeles chapter of the Hispanic Dental Association. To know more about him and his team, visit this link.
Reference:
https://www.parkmeadowsdentalgroup.com/blog/the-difference-between-dental-anxiety-and-dental-phobia