Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Dental implants can change your life, whether you’re missing a tooth or two or wearing dentures and wishing you weren’t. Here’s how to tell whether they’re right for you.
Why Am I So Nervous About Going to the Dentist?
You’re not alone in your fear of the dentist. Dental anxiety or dentophobia affects more than 75% of adults in the United States.
When asked why, most people can name a few reasons they don’t enjoy visiting the dentist, but many simply experience generalized anxiety and can’t pinpoint exactly what makes them so nervous.
We have some experience with this and love to help our patients understand and overcome their fears. In addition to emotional and psychological support, we offer practical ways to ease your nerves.
Dr. Caesar Sweidan and Dr. Laura Smith at St. Tammany Periodontics & Implants are passionate about providing a pleasant and positive experience for all of our patients throughout Slidell and Covington, Louisiana.
Here we are highlighting the most common reasons our patients feel nervous about going to the dentist, so you can identify your triggers and discover how our innovative treatments, nonjudgmental approach, and personal care can eliminate your dentophobia.
Top reasons people fear the dentist
Since most Americans have dental anxiety, it’s easy to understand that the reasons they cite are many and varied. Here are the most common.
Discomfort
It probably won’t surprise you that fear of discomfort tops the list. Although most dental appointments aren’t uncomfortable, that doesn’t stop patients from anticipating being discomfort, and that’s all it takes to keep some folks away from their dentist’s office.
If you’re afraid of discomfort, we have good news: St. Tammany Periodontics & Implants offers laser therapy, which eliminates drilling and any discomfort associated with it. We use this powerful light-based technology to detect and fill cavities, remove diseased gum tissues, contour gums, and perform biopsies — all without discomfort.
Noise
Some people zero in on the sounds they hear in a dentist’s office. The sound of dental drills, suction devices, and other equipment can be overwhelming and trigger fear in many patients. Fortunately, our laser therapy tools are silent.
Smells
Maybe the smells associated with dental procedures make you anxious. After all, there’s an array of aromas, such as the scent of fluoride or disinfectants, and they can be unpleasant for some. We do our best to neutralize strong scents.
Needles
Needles are another common cause of dental anxiety. The thought of having a needle inserted into your mouth can be frightening, even if you’ve had injections before. Our laser therapy techniques eliminate the need for novocaine shots for many procedures, so this is a nonissue in many cases.
Choking
Choking is also a concern for some folks, especially those who have a sensitive gag reflex or have experienced choking during a previous dental procedure.
Our experienced dental specialists keep you comfortable throughout your procedure, using slim instruments and skilled techniques that keep your airway open and your mind at ease.
Blood
Blood can trigger dental anxiety, too. If you’re uncomfortable with the sight of blood or the thought of bleeding during a procedure, laser therapy is made for you. The precision we get from laser technology allows us to quickly and accurately make repairs with very little tissue damage and blood.
Negative past experiences
Have you had a bad experience with a dentist? Some people point to the personality or attitude of their past dentists as the reason they avoid the profession. We do our best to erase that stigma by providing a patient-centered, friendly, calming environment.
Judgment
Finally, many people are nervous about their dental appointment because it’s been so long since their last visit. They don’t want to be chastised and judged or made to feel shameful or guilty. We get it. That’s why we’ve instituted a no-judgment policy at St. Tammany Periodontics & Implants — come as you are.
Lose your dentophobia — choose a different kind of dentist
If any of the reasons on this list apply to you, you can overcome dentophobia simply by choosing a different kind of dentist. Our team strives to provide a safe, comfortable environment that addresses the common causes of dental anxiety and minimizes them as much as possible.
But seeing is believing.
We invite you to schedule an appointment and meet our team of friendly, professional dental experts and experience our office. We believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised and join the rest of our patients who love coming to see us.
Request an appointment online or call us at 985-778-0241.
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