If your child has ever stayed up a little later than usual thinking about their next dental appointment or tried to convince you to cancel their next visit to the dentist, this behavior is fairly common. According to the Dental Fears Research Clinic, approximately five to eight percent of Americans avoid getting their teeth checked at the dentist because they’re scared.
At The TeleDentists, we understand how difficult it can be for your child to visit the dentist and know it is a legitimate concern. While our goal is to always make patients feel as comfortable as possible and to provide everyone with a great experience, dental phobia is never easy to overcome. Here, we discuss why people fear dentists and how we can help with dental phobia.
Know More about Dental Phobia
Dental phobia refers to feeling fear, anxiety, or nervousness produced by the thought of an impending dental appointment. People all over the world have different names for this – dental fear, dental anxiety, or odontophobia. This fear is recognized even by the World Health Organization (WHO), which estimates that it affects approximately 15 to 20 percent of the American population. In children, its symptoms vary widely in severity and can be identified as early as five years old. Upon arriving to visit a dentist, affected children start to exhibit some signs of stress, throw a tantrum, or even make themselves sick to avoid an appointment completely.
To those who don’t have this specific fear, it can be difficult to empathize with why one would be scared of a dentist. Before the appointment, they seem friendly and warm people. However, just as those scrubs go on and their pick sets are brought out, they can be worrisome to those with dental phobia. There can be plenty of reasons why people fear dentists, but these are the most common reasons – growing up with bad teeth, a bad dental experience as a child, a pre-existing anxiety disorder, and a lack of control.
How We Can Help Manage Dental Phobia
It is helpful to be examined and treated by a dentist whom your child trust. Our dentists are also empathetic and have experience working with nervous patients. Here are ways we can work with your child to help them feel more relaxed during their appointment:
• Talking to them and explaining everything that will happen when we’re treating them
• Letting them take a closer look at dental instruments or touching them before they’re used
Is your child scared of white coats? Let them talk to a TeleDentist before going to a dental office. Video chatting is a great way to calm those nerves and prepare for a real office visit.
Why Choose The Teledentists' Dental Services for Pediatric Oral Health Concerns?
At The Teledentists, we always have your needs and preferences in mind. If your child is afraid of visiting the dentist, we encourage you to do a video call with us so we can talk to your child before bringing them for a dental visit. We will do our best in helping them overcome their fears in the best way possible.
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