Dental Fears & Anxieties

Let’s explore it:

It might surprise you, but the number one fear people have of the dentist is a fear of the unknown.

If you think about it, people are conditioned to think this way. Most simply don’t know what procedures need to be done, the discomfort (or lack of discomfort) level involved, or how much it’s all going to cost.

As a result, many people avoid the dentist, existing dental problems become worse and more costly to fix.

The solution:

Trust and communication are the key.

We work with you to break down your treatment down into simple, easy and comfortable steps

Understanding something almost always alleviates much of the fear surrounding it.

Let’s explore it:

Nearly everyone over the age of 30 has an experience with a dentist that has been painful or traumatic.

These experiences can vary in nature, but usually involve not being properly anesthetized, or dentists that were too rough, with little to no bedside manner.

These experiences may have occurred during childhood, further amplifying the trauma associated with them.

The solution:

The good news is pain is mostly a thing of the past. In fact, you shouldn’t experience any pain.  Pain management has come a long way in the last 2 decades.

Here are some of the methods we use to reduce or eliminate pain:

• Sedation. When you are given a sedative, you stay awake, but you don’t feel anything and the feeling of time passes nearly immediately. Most patients are surprised, and tell us, It’s over already?
  
• Natural remedies. If you’re concerned about traditional sedation, we have a number of natural and homeopathic remedies, sedatives and relaxants available.
• Entertainment. It helps to give your mind something else to focus on. And with TV’s on the ceiling, you can enjoy a movie while we work on your teeth.
• Noise cancelling headphones / music. If you’re sensitive to noise or simply want another distraction, try our noise-cancelling headphones. You can also listen to any music you like. If you’re interested, there is also some evidence the phenomenon of Audioanalgesia may even further reduce pain, anxiety or discomfort!

Let’s explore it:

When a person is having their teeth worked on by a dentist, they generally have a feeling of having no control in the process.

This is a natural human response, and leads to patients feeling that their dental work is invasive, and when combined with pain, a feeling of of torture.

Digital impressions offer a easy and comfortable way to get a perfect, one-to-one 3D model of your teeth.

The solution:

This fear is actually very easily managed once you realize that you are in full control.

Having the knowledge of exactly what is happening, along with the ability to have tell us to stop at any time during your treatment, effectively eliminates most elements of this fear.

Let’s explore it:

Some people put off dental work entirely because they are afraid of the costs.

Big dental procedures can be costly, so people put off even routine teeth cleanings because they are afraid of a larger procedure that they may or may not even really need.

The solution:

Not taking good care of teeth on a daily basis is bad enough, but when you put off regularly scheduled teeth cleanings, small dental problems become bigger, costlier problems.

Take care of your teeth every day, and get your teeth professionally cleaned 2-3 times per year.

You might want to look into our Del Mar Family Dentistry Savings Plan to subsidize some of the costs.