Since you have enough to be afraid of with all the ghouls, vampires, werewolves, zombies, and witches running around during the Halloween season, why should you add the dentist to that list? Nearly 20% of Americans have dental anxiety, so fear of the dentist’s office is a common thing. There are many reasons people might feel this way. Some people have had bad experiences, others worry about how much treatment will cost, and many people are simply afraid of receiving bad news. Read on to learn how advances in dentistry have made the office more pleasant than it ever has been before.
Modern Dentistry Is Quite Painless
In previous decades, dental techniques were more limited in what they could do for a patient’s comfort during a procedure. Even the dreaded root canal, once considered the most painful experience a dental patient could endure, has been rendered virtually painless by new tools and pain management techniques. With local anesthetics, dental sedation treatments, and even just more comfortable dentist’s chairs, you can rest assured that your experience in the office will involve only mild discomfort at worst.
Modern Dentistry Is Much Less Invasive
Advanced technology allows dentists today to detect and treat dental issues more efficiently than they ever could before. This means that there is much less need for alteration of healthy tooth structure during reconstructive procedures. Newer treatments like tooth-colored fillings can form a stronger bond with the tooth and be far less conspicuous than their predecessors.
Tooth Decay and Gum Disease Are Much Worse
There is absolutely no treatment a dentist can perform that will be more painful than dealing with a throbbing, miserable toothache. Regular dental appointments provide your smile with professional attention that can catch and resolve problems in their early stages and provide you with advice on better hygiene techniques. People become dentists because they want to help people stay healthy, avoid suffering, and improve their lives. Your smile doesn’t have a better friend than your dentist, so it’s important that they see a lot of each other.
About the Author
Dr. Bobby J. Carmen earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry before completing a General Practice Residency at Naval Hospital Great Lakes in Illinois. He has served as a dentist for more than twenty years and is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the Academy of General Dentistry. His office in Norman, OK offers general, pediatric, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To schedule a dental appointment, contact the office online or dial (405) 364-2200.