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Dental Phobia Singapore Treatment Options


Do you ever get nervous just thinking about going to the dentist? You might be worrying unnecessarily. With dentistry’s many advances, consultations and many dental treatments become quicker and more comfortable all the time. Find more about dental phobia Singapore treatment options.

These positive techniques work wonders for many. Try them on your next dental appointment to overcome dental phobia. Avoiding dentist appointments can result in needless problems and poor oral health.


Dental Phobia – Dental Anxiety – Dental Fear


Dental phobia, dental anxiety, and dental fear are generally and informally used to describe dread or increased stress levels associated with visits to the dentist or dental office and can manifest in a variety of ways. It is possible for a person to experience anything from a slight annoyance at the thought of having to go to the dentist to a full-blown panic episode, which can begin the very instant that the conscious mind recognizes the idea of going to a dental appointment.

Denatl Anxiety

Denatl anxiety is experiencing some level of dental nervousness, particularly when it comes to undergoing procedures that are unfamiliar to them. The “uncertainty factor,” or fear of the unknown, is a common cause. In other words, this means you are dentally anxious and It is perfectly normal to feel nervous when going to the dentist, and our friendly staff and dental tips will help you to calm down and get out of the anxious feeling.

Dental Fear

Dental fear is usually much more focused. When someone has a fear, they can typically describe it in detail. The best example of dental fear is fear of needles or injections (dental instruments) or fear of the dentist or fear of pain. Another can be some people fear the vibrations and the noise. Finding all of your dental fears can be challenging but with some guidance, you will be able to recognize them, and then can find solutions.

Dental Forbia

If you suffer from dental phobia, the terror you experience is so intense that you will avoid going to the dentist until either the physical discomfort or the emotional weight of the phobia becomes too much for you to bear. It’s possible that some individuals, for a variety of reasons, will continue to visit the dentist. However, they will persevere through these interactions with overwhelming despair or worry.


Are you afraid of the Dentist?


Some people are scared to go to the doctor, while others are just nervous. Going to the dentist seems like a stressful thing to do. This is normal, though. If you want to know how common this is, about a small percentage of people have dental phobia, and about a fifth of people have dental dear. Women tend to be more worried about going to the dentist than men. There are many valid reasons that can make someone afraid of the dentist.

Common Causes of Denatl Phobia

  • Anxiety about the dentist is typically brought on by previous unpleasant dental experiences. (usually in childhood).

Most people who are afraid of dentists got this fear when they were young, often because of a bad experience at the dentist. They might have been treated badly, or their pain might have been ignored.

  • Anxiety disorder: Dental phobia and anxiety can occur together with other mental health issues.

An anxiety disease that has nothing to do with teeth can also cause dental fear. Patients may have negative thoughts and feel worried because they don’t know what to expect at the dentist’s office. They may also think that it’s probably better not to know what’s wrong with their teeth than to know.

  • Sounds or equipment related to dental treatments and dental procedures

Some people with dental fear may be afraid to go to the dentist because they think the tools and drilling the teeth are dangerous. Unfortunately, ignoring your oral health for a long time can lead to major gum infections and cavities. When a person with a dental phobia finally goes to the dentist, they may have to get some serious dental work done, which may make them feel even worse. So, with this ripple effect, people will avoid going to the doctor in the future.

  • Other unpleasant stories 

Even if a person has never been exposed to a stressful dental experience in the past, they may still be susceptible to developing dental anxiety if they hear stories about it from acquaintances, family, or the media. 

  • Feeling humiliated to show the condition of the oral hygiene

Most of the time, patients are worried about being embarrassed. Some people are so ashamed of how their teeth look that they don’t go to the dentist at all. They are also afraid of being judged or even lectured by a dentist. In modern dentistry, the practice is to educate in a friendly manner without targeting the person.

  • The personal experience of losing power

Some patients, especially feel exposed as soon as they sit or lie back in the dentist’s chair. They don’t like not knowing what’s going on around them during treatment, because it makes them feel vulnerable, defenceless, and powerless.


How will dental Phobia affect you?


People who have minor dental anxiety or fear often feel a little nervous or irritable. misunderstandings about dental treatments and overthinking about the whole thing can make this fear worse and make it so the patient can’t mentally handle going to the dentist. But this is generally easy to get over with the help of the doctor and family members and by being aware of the fear.

But people with a serious dental phobia, which is generally irrational, will put off treatment or even stay away from the dentist until something goes wrong. Then, most people have no choice but to show up with a lot of pain or swelling in the face. Because of this, people who are afraid of the dentist tend to lose their natural teeth sooner than other people.

This means that not going to the dentist when the problem is small could lead to more dental work. These can be root canals, tooth extractions, and replacing missing teeth with implants, dentures, crowns, and bridges. If you don’t get these treatments done, it can hurt your oral health and your overall look, both of which can disturb you mentally. So, it’s better to deal with the fear of dentists than to have to deal with a lot more bad things.


 Signs and Symptoms


Unease about the upcoming trip to the dentist is the most common and most of the time, discomfort and a worried state of mind are signs, but they can also show up in different ways:

Sweating
Nausea
Heartbeats or a faster heart rate
Fainting
Visible distress (e.g. crying, hyperventilating, sweaty and cold palms, frequent wringing of hands, talking much faster than normal, etc.)
Withdrawing or using humour or anger to hide their worry
When the doctor tries to put a dental tool near the mouth, the person gags or can’t swallow.

But severe dental phobia, which is usually illogical, will make people delay treatment or even avoid going to the dentist until something goes wrong. Then without choice usually have to show up with severe pain or a lot of swelling in the face. Because of this, dental phobic people tend to lose their natural teeth sooner than usual. This means not visiting the dentist when the issue is minor may lead to more dental work, such as root canal treatments, tooth extraction, and tooth replacement with implants, dentures, crowns, and bridges. If reluctant to come for these procedures can lead to loss of oral health and overall outlook and both can affect your mental health. Therefore, it is best to manage the dental phobia than face a lot more unpleasant consequences.


Dental Phobia Singapore Treatment and Tips

Dental anxiety is controllable for the majority of people; however, for a small percentage of the population, the fear is very real. But either way, we can help you to feel relaxed and calm, and our warm and friendly dentists and staff will make sure you are well taken care of.

There are many solutions available for denatl phobia, starting with telling the dentist staff about your worries and fears and booking the first appointment of the day so that you don’t have to wait. Other options would be to bring your favourite music on your phone or bring a friend to your dentist’s visit. The use of laughing gas and intravenous sedation are also options in some cases. (check with the dentist).



Time of Day

You should schedule the appointment at a time when you feel most relaxed to visit the dentist.

Try to choose a time for your dental visit when you’re less likely to be rushed or under pressure. Block out an hour before and after your dental appointment so that you have plenty of time.

It is also a good idea to check with the dental receptionist as to the practice’s busiest periods so you can avoid waiting, and the dentist and staff have more time to help you.



Share Your Anxiety

It’s often best to be open about your fears, such as fear of pain, fear of needles, noise, or smell. If you’re tense or anxious, tell our dentist and dental staff. Getting your concerns out in the open will let us adapt the treatment to your needs.

If the sound of the drill bothers you, bring a portable audio player and headset so you can listen to your favourite music. During the dental visit, you might try visualizing yourself relaxing on a warm beach.



Extent of Treatment

The first appointment should really be used to build rapport with your dentist, and allow him or her to alleviate some of your fears.

  • Timing: Our dentist will let you go at your own pace.
  • Control: A useful way of making sure you feel in control is to discuss a signal – such as a raised hand – that lets us know that you need to stop for a break.
  • Specific Concerns: Make sure you tell our dentist if there are any specific areas that make you anxious like local anaesthetic, or if you have had traumatic experiences with dentistry in the past.


Support

Request to sit in while the dentist treats another friend or family member so that you can become accustomed to the environment.

Some people find that taking a friend or close family member along (either to meet the dentist for the first time or during the treatment to hold their hand (or both) can be very helpful. You may also want to bring a friend or someone along to keep you company in the waiting room.



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Online appointment booking is available for new and existing patients.

DentalPlus provides quality and affordable dental services in a comfortable, caring, and hygienic environment.
We are located within Telok Blangah, walking distance from the Telok Blangah MRT Station.

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