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What Can You Do if You’re Afraid of the Dentist?

How Can You Still Receive Dental Care Without Being Afraid of the Dentist?

You know you need dental care; after all, you can feel and see your teeth beginning to deteriorate! Yet, what can you do if you’re afraid of the dentist? How can you expect to have your teeth cared for if you’re too fearful to step into your local dentist’s office? This fear of the dentist, known as dentophobia, isn’t anything new for Total Dental Care. Our experienced dentists have managed specialized dental procedures for those with severe dentophobia for decades. If you’re wondering how this is possible, the answer is sedation dentistry! Call Total Dental Care to learn more.

What Can You Do if You're Afraid of the Dentist?

First of All, What is Dentophobia?

Dentophobia, commonly known as the fear of the dentist, goes beyond mere nervousness about the person caring for your teeth. This fear can arise from various concerns related to dental visits or procedures. Whether it’s anxiety about pain, discomfort, or the overall experience, dentophobia often stems from a combination of factors that are unique to each individual. Some of these factors include:

  • A fear of pain paired with overly sensitive gums and teeth
  • Past trauma linked to childhood dental visits
  • A sense of losing control during dental procedures
  • Anxiety about the use of needles, drills, and other dental instruments
  • The impact of negative stories or portrayals of dentistry in the media
  • An excessively sensitive gag reflex

Can Dentophobia Be Overcome?

Absolutely! While it might require intervention from a mental health professional to uncover the root cause of an individual’s dental fear, there are several ways patients can manage their anxiety on their own. Here are a few helpful tips that our patients have used to calm themselves while preparing for or undergoing a procedure:

  • Learn Everything You Can – It’s harder to be afraid of something when you know everything about it. Total Dental Care offers comprehensive educational resources for patients who want to learn more about the procedures they undergo.
  • Bring a Friend – Just having someone to talk to can help ease your anxiety and distract you from your fear. Once your procedure is complete, your friend will be there to comfort you and help you get home!
  • Find a Distraction – If you can shift your focus away from the dental procedure at hand, it’s easier to get through your appointment. Bring something to read in the waiting room and earbuds to listen to your favorite music or podcasts while in the dentist’s chair.
  • Use Relaxation Techniques – Similar to finding a distraction, utilizing relaxation techniques can be beneficial. Before an appointment and while waiting for procedures to begin, many patients find that controlled breathing, stretching, or meditation help them feel relaxed and calm.

What is Total Dental Care’s Solution?

If you still find it challenging to schedule a dentist’s appointment due to fear and anxiety, Total Dental Care has the solution: sedation dentistry! At Total Dental Care, Dr. Stephen Dickey and Dr. David Steinwedel have extensive experience working with patients who require sedation. We administer calming medication either orally via a pill or through inhalation conscious sedation (laughing gas). Many of our patients have experienced incredible success with sedation, often able to complete long and complex procedures with minimal discomfort or memory of the time spent in the chair. Some benefits of sedation include:

  • Reduced anxiety and fear during dental procedures
  • The ability to complete multiple complex procedures in one visit
  • Enhanced pain tolerance and reduced sensitivity of teeth
  • Little to no memory of your procedure, making return appointments easier
  • Improved cooperation with your dentist
  • Reduced gag reflex, allowing for smoother operations in your mouth

What Procedures Can Be Completed with Sedation?

Great news for Total Dental Care patients: any general, cosmetic, preventive, or restorative service we provide can be performed with sedation! We offer comprehensive dental services for Pekin, Peoria, East Peoria, Washington, and Central Illinois patients. We are committed to providing compassionate, comfortable, exceptional care, offering services such as:

  • Teeth Whitening
  • Same Day Crowns
  • Crowns and Bridges
  • Tooth Extractions
  • Cosmetic Fillings
  • Root Canals
  • Dentures
  • Sealants
  • Scaling and Root Planing
  • And More

Contact Our Office Today

You no longer have to ask yourself what you can do if you’re afraid of the dentist; now you have the answer! Schedule your next dentist appointment with Total Dental Care, and we can ease your concerns during your dental procedure through our sedation dentistry. If you’d like to learn more about our services or schedule a first-time appointment, call 309-347-7055. Our main office is located at 13 Olt Ave, Pekin, IL 61554.