Thousands of people suffer from dental anxiety or phobia throughout their lives. Sometimes it can be caused by having a negative experience in the past which has now left you feeling terrified of visiting your dental practice, whilst some people have been anxious about going to the dentist for their entire lives. Either way, having a phobia about attending dental appointments can affect people in many ways.
Here at Smilecraft we are aware of just how awful suffering from dental anxiety can be. Your dentist in Stevenage will do whatever they can to make you feel relaxed and at ease from the moment you enter the practice. We want you to feel confident when you visit us and when you leave our practice we do not want you to be shaking in fear, we want you to feel glad that you made the decision to visit us.
What constitutes a phobia?
Every person suffering from dental phobia or anxiety is different. Some people will feel unable to even speak about dentistry without feeling panicky, let alone think about attending an appointment. At our practice we try to stress the importance of having regular check-ups, as avoiding your dentist in Stevenage can result in the condition of your teeth deteriorating over time, and you may need more excessive treatments later in life.
Having a phobia can mean anything, from feeling a little anxious about visiting your dental practitioner to having a panic attack in the waiting room. Some people can feel sick or have irrational thoughts about what is going to happen at their appointment, and in some cases, they will be unable to have procedures performed without powerful anaesthetics.
Why avoiding your dental practice is a bad idea
At Smilecraft, we try and stress to all our patients how important it is to attend regular check-ups and have the treatment they need as soon as they need it. Your dentist in Stevenage will be able to tell you how not keeping your teeth in a good condition could result in tooth decay, gum disease and many more problems that will result in you either losing teeth or having to have more extensive dental work carried out in the future.
What you can do to overcome your fears
There are several things that you can do to ease your anxiety. At Smilecraft we always welcome you and allow you to bring a relative or companion with you, so you feel a little more comfortable in your surroundings. We also offer services for patients that really do not like visiting the practice such as our e-consultations. This is where you can upload a picture of your smile and/or teeth and explain to us what you want to have changed or checked. Your dentist in Stevenage will be able to provide you with basic information about the treatments that you may need, but it will remain up to you to book an appointment when you feel ready.
It is best to book an appointment at our practice and speak to one of our many dental professionals, as they will provide you with all the information you need and help you get back on track when it comes to achieving the smile that you want.