Did you know that only 60% of Australian adults visit the dentist annually?
That means 40% of people are avoiding the dentist. While there are a number of different reasons why people don’t visit the dentist, dental phobia is among one of the most prevalent factors. So if you are feeling anxious about your dental appointment, try to relax – you are not alone.
Treating dental phobia
Dr Craig Duval and our dental professionals at our South Brisbane practice treat anxious patients every single day. We make it a priority to find out if our patients are feeling nervous about their appointment. If you are feeling nervous about your appointment, there are a number of different steps our dental professionals can take to help to make you feel relaxed and comfortable.
Causes of dental anxiety
There are a number of reasons why people feel anxious about visiting the dentist. The three most common reasons that people fear the dentist include:
Past experiences
Many patients who experience dental anxiety have had an unpleasant experience when visiting the dentist in the past.
The Sherwood Dental difference: Our dental professionals take the time to discuss any anxieties you may be feeling with you prior to your treatment. Dr Craig Duval will walk you through your appointment as it is happening to help minimise any dental anxiety you are feeling. Our practice prioritises your comfort and if you feel nervous or uncomfortable at any point during your appointment we encourage you to let our dental professionals know immediately. We also strive to personalise your appointment, so you never feel like you are just a number.
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Perceived lack of control
The feeling of being laid back in the dental chair and out of control during your treatment can generate dental anxiety.
The Sherwood Dental difference: Dr Craig Duval understands that lying back in the dental chair can make patients feel nervous. In partnership with our dental team Dr Craig Duval will walk you through each step of your treatment as it is happening. This means no surprises during your appointment, so you can relax and feel that you know what each step will be.
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Fear of the outcome
A significant factor of dental anxiety is a fear of the outcome of your appointment or the perceived belief that you will receive bad news.
The Sherwood Dental difference: Sherwood Dental is committed to giving you an accurate diagnosis and discussing your full treatment options with you. We will never begin a treatment without discussing the procedure and the pricing with you first. Chances are if you have a moderate toothache you will only need a filling, however the sooner you have a toothache seen to the easier it will be to treat. We practice conservative dentistry so you don’t have to worry about our dental professionals suggesting a treatment that is unnecessary for your teeth.
The consequences of not receiving dental care
There are a number of concerning consequences that can develop as result of not visiting the dentist.
According to the results of the National Dental Telephone Interview Survey in 2010, 1 in 5 people in rated their dental health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ and 25.3% of people reported being uncomfortable with their dental appearance.
By ignoring poor dental health because of dental anxiety, unfortunately the concerns will only become more serious.
Your options for managing dental anxiety at Sherwood Dental
If you have a fear of visiting the dentist or receiving dental treatment then sedation dentistry may be a viable option for you. We offer highly monitored sedation dentistry from our relaxing South Brisbane dental practice.
We also offer local anaesthetic so our patients do not feel any pain or discomfort from their treatment. In some circumstances a specialised anaesthetic gel or spray which has a numbing effect may be applied prior to the administration of the local aesthetic injection is administered.
Dr Craig Duval partners these options with compassionate and attentive care throughout every step of your treatment.