Fear of Dentistry

Do you get a sick, uneasy feeling when contemplating going to your next dental visit? You are not alone. 1 out of 2 persons in this country (CDA Journal, July 1998) does not go to a dentist until they are suffering severe discomfort. Two reasons most often cited for avoiding regular checkups are cost and fear of pain. These are both very rational reasons. There are very few people who actually like to spend money and experience pain simultaneously! But are these realistic concerns, and are they worth the consequences of not seeing a dentist regularly?

First, let's look at the expense of dental care. The cost of maintaining a healthy mouth is often less that a couple of hundred dollars a year and almost always covered by insurance. However, if you do not maintain good oral hygiene and do not see a dentist biannually, the cost of dental care can go up quite dramatically. Regular cleanings and examinations help detect diseases in the earliest stages when treatment is effective and the least invasive. By the time a person feels discomfort, the underlying cause or disease is usually in an advanced stage and may necessitate drastic procedures, even the removal of teeth.

There is also the belief that dental examination and treatments are painful. For most persons, dental examinations are a painless experience and assure continued dental health. When advanced dental procedures are required, local anesthetics are used to deaden the nerves in the mouth. Both dental equipment and procedures have advanced ensuring that patients are as comfortable as possible throughout examinations.

So don't let your fears keep you from having routine dental examinations. It is when oral hygiene and care is allowed to lapse that the real worries start.