You will be surprised how dental anxiety is real for people of all ages. This is a common denominator for people of all ages, cultures, nationalities, and languages. If there’s one thing that connects us all, it’s the fear of dentists. You will rarely find a person that jumps in excitement at the mention of going to the dentist. Dental anxiety is a serious condition that affects at least 36% of the US population, with some 12% experiencing extreme dental fear.
Do you remember when you were a kid? Going to a kids’ dentist in Lehi or other cities often fill you with dread. Dental anxiety is connected to many factors. It can be because of a traumatic experience or learning from the painful experience of someone close to you. It can also be coming from inherited personality traits. If you grew up seeing your parents fearful of dentists, that fear would become real for you, too.
The Case of the School Dentist
Adults who still suffer from dental fear often point out their school dentists as the reason. If they’ve had a bad experience with their school dentists in the past, that will cause them to never want to revisit another one. While this is probable, it is not the sole reason that you don’t want to sit on that dental chair.
Feelings of Helplessness and Lack of Control
Some studies suggest that people fear dentists because they cannot control what happens on that chair. Imagine how the situation looks. You’re seated on the chair with your mouth opened wide. The dentist then prods on your teeth and gums. You are not in control of what happens next, and you can barely speak.
It’s not just about being in control, either. People who have suffered from abuses or traumatic experiences in the past have a hard time losing control. In their minds, they are back in the same helpless situations that made them victims of abuse.
Frightened Parents Could Be the Culprits
When you were growing up, what were your memories of your parents talking about or visiting the dentist? Were they scared? Were they apprehensive? You may have learned to take up your parents’ fears without realizing it. If you heard your parents talking about their fears of dentists, then that fear can take hold.
Your first visit to the dentist is also a telling indication of how you’re going to feel about dental clinics in the future. If you see your parents frightened about your first dental visit, you’re going to have the same anxiety. That’s why for parents now, be careful about how you talk about dental visits with your children. That could have a lasting effect on their lives.
You can seek help for your dental anxiety. Plenty of psychologists and psychiatrists understand this fear well. You can even take up new methods of overcoming this fear, such as hypnosis. It will help you know where these fears are coming from. Hopefully, your understanding will aid in addressing these problems.
