Dental anxiety signs and symptoms
Don’t let anxiety keep you from a healthy smile
Going to a dentist or being in a dental office can cause a person to feel great anxiety. Dental anxiety is common among both adults and children, especially children being influenced by their parents' fears and attitudes toward dental treatment. It’s natural to feel anxious about potentially uncomfortable situations, but most dental anxiety and fear can be managed by talking with your dental team and adopting some simple strategies.
Don’t let your fear of going to the dentist or being in a dental office become so overwhelming that it prevents you from making needed dental appointments and causes your oral health to suffer. Here is some guidance for understanding and managing dental anxiety.
What causes dental anxiety?
Dental anxiety can be caused by a number of factors including:
Dental anxiety signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of dental anxiety can range from mild to extreme and are not always easy to identify. However, if you have any of the following issues before or during a dental appointment, then you are likely experiencing dental anxiety:
Three ways to manage dental anxiety
The good news is there are many ways to ease the anxiety associated with going to the dentist. Here are some strategies to try out.
Final thoughts
Learning how to manage your dental anxiety is important to maintaining good oral health. Avoiding or refusing to seek dental care or to follow recommended treatment plans can result in a greater need for treatment, higher costs, more complicated procedures, and even loss of teeth. If anxiety is becoming an ongoing issue or is preventing you from regularly going to the dentist, then we recommend trying out some of the strategies above or speaking to your dentist about your concerns.
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