Dental Anxiety

Dental_AnxietyOvercoming Dental Anxiety

At Dentistry of West Bend, we are committed to helping our patients overcome dental anxiety and phobias so you can get the dental care that you need. Our compassionate staff maintains a relaxing environment to help make each visit a pleasant experience for you.

What is dental anxiety?

Dental anxieties and phobias manifest in many ways. Fear is often based on past trauma around dental work. Dental anxiety may make you avoid the dentist, but in most cases, patients can overcome dental anxiety, and get the dental care that they need.

Dental phobia is a more intense condition that typically presents as an overwhelming, irrational fear of dentistry. This may lead to total avoidance of dental care, which can result in serious dental problems.

Is dental anxiety a common problem?

It is estimated that as many as 75% of Americans have some degree of dental anxiety and some 20% avoid dental visits due to this. If going to the dentist makes you anxious, know that you are not alone. Our team will take every measure to ensure that you feel comfortable and relaxed while in our office.

Managing anxiety

Our staff is committed to making your visit as comfortable as possible. We will help you overcome anxiety in the following ways:

  • Clear communication: We inform all our patients before, during, and after every procedure of everything that is happening, as many patients find this reassuring.
  • Breathing techniques: We help you slow down your breathing to relax your entire body.
  • Music: Our patients bring in personal headphones and listen to the music of their choice during most procedures, as many find this relaxing.
  • Sedation and Nitrous Oxide: We provide various types of sedation including nitrous oxide to help you relax during many procedures.
  • Breaks: If you need to pause during a procedure, signal by raising your left hand. We will happily take a quick break and let you rest before continuing.

Don’t let anxiety keep you from the dental care that you need. Our friendly staff at Dentistry of West Bend can help you put dental anxiety behind you.